The Trust's incredible supporters raised a whopping £10,600 through the national 2.6 Challenge, which took place across the country last Sunday (26 April).
No fewer than 60 members of the Trust family, friends and supporters, old and new, took on a Challenge around the numbers 2.6 or 26.
On what should have been the day of the London Marathon - the world's biggest one-day fundraising event - the national #TwoPointSixChallenge was launched to help save the nation’s charities, which have been impacted by the pandemic.
The Trust has seen its income take a significant hit because of Coronavirus, but young people recovering from cancer are going to need the Trust more than ever when this is all over. Our fab supporters, or ‘Home Heroes’, came up with all sorts of inventive ways to fundraise to help ensure we can be there for the young people who will need us now and in the future.
Amongst the highlights were Trust Ambassador and double Olympic gold medallist, Shirley Robertson, and her family who took on a marathon rowing challenge, Trust CEO's Frank Fletcher's triathlete son, James, cycled 260 kilometres on his indoor bike - the distance from London to Manchester - and Youth Board member, Danielle Clapcott, produced 13 PPE gowns. Each of these each raised over £1,000.
Whether they pushed their physical limits or got creative every challenge made a huge difference so please join us in saying a massive THANK YOU to everyone that took part. We have have been completely overwhelmed by the support shown during this difficult time.
Here is a round-up of the amazing efforts...
- Olympic silver medallist and Trust Ambassador, Luke Patience, took part in the #26OlympiansChallenge workout and roped 26 of his friends to take on a 26km cycle.
- Trust skipper and Largs local, Marc Turner, and his family took on a series of small challenges, which turned their daily routine at home into a numerical quiz. From camping out in the garden for 26 hours to hiking up the hills above Largs to 26 sunflowers dedicated to those they have not been able to see during lockdown.
- Our Volunteer of the Year, Alex Rickman ran a marathon completing 36 laps around the beautiful Sussex countryside, he has only got 11 more to go after setting himself the crazy challenge of doing a marathon a month for a year. His dad Dave has also decided to get in on the act and will be joining him to cycle a marathon a month! Hats off to you both.
- Our friends at the Strangford Lough Yacht Club rounded up the troops and encouraged their members to take on a series of 2.6 related challenges.
- Thanks to Marlow Ropes fab volunteer Liz Austin got creative by making 26 corded bracelets and key rings which she sent to the first 26 people who donated to the Trust.
- Last year’s awesome Trip Assistant, Paul Crabb, and his wife Sarah took their dog Fergus on a 2.6km walk, three-legged style. Walking around the park with their legs tied together was trickier than they thought but they came away unscathed, with their marriage still intact.
- Over on the Trust Facebook page another of our Trust Ambassadors and Personal Trainer Dan Monk hosted a live 26-minute HIIT session, with over 40 people taking part. Young person and Hospital Liaison, down South, Holly West managed to complete it dressed as a hot dog meanwhile up north, our Operations Administrator, Lorna MacDonald, channeled her inner unicorn self.
- Having witnessed the difference out trips make, Ian Rossiter ran 26.2km (16.3 miles) to thanks us for supporting his friend.
- The wonderful 4Com Foundation rounded up 240 staff members to create 24 teams with each person walking or running 2.6 miles. Each team of 10 completed a marathon between them and got to choose a charity to support, we're super grateful to be one of the teams chosen charities.
- The Trust Comms crew also did their bit, with Comms Manager, Karenza, walking up and down a 220ft 26 times in just over two-and-a-half hours and shaggy haired Comms Officer (North), Scott, setting his clippers to 2.5 (it was close enough!) and shaving his head!
- Danielle Clapcott dusted off her sewing machine and made 13 PPE gowns & four scrub bags, she choose this target as it’s 2.6 times the number of years she has been supported by the Trust and is now a Volunteer and Youth Board member. She raised £571, which will be match funded by her employers.
- In a hot and stuffy bedroom somewhere on the Isle of Wight, James, the triathlete son of our CEO Frank Fletcher, casually cycled 260km on his indoor bike. That is London to Manchester! WOAH!
- Meanwhile back in Cowes, Trust Ambassador Shirley Robertson managed to convince her two teenagers to get involved together the three of them rowed the equivalent of the London marathon.
We hope these uplift you as much as it did us. We are still bursting with joy. It was a pretty epic day thanks to these incredible folk #HomeHeroes.
