Chris and I decided together this year that we wanted to set an iconic goal where we could raise vital funds for a local charity. It is important to us to be positive role models to our daughter, who is four years old, by showing her the importance of having goals and challenges, being fit and healthy and being charitable and helpful to others.
Chris is a personal trainer with a passion for cycling and I’ve worked in marketing and promotion for over 20 years. Together, we’ve proved a formidable fundraising team.
We chose a challenge that would be epic. Chris is cycling 1000 miles in 10 days, starting on August 20 at John O’Groats in Scotland and ending up, after 10 gruelling days, at his final destination at Lands End on August 30.
Chris is doing this solo and unsupported. It’s been quite a challenge in itself planning and arranging such an enormous feat, for example, Chris can only carry one small bag throughout the 10 day challenge for his essentials.
Chris is currently training daily in order to prepare himself for the epic challenge by cycling approximately 60 miles a day which he has to juggle around work and home life.
We chose to raise funds for Jeremiah’s Journey because their work is centred around helping children and young people who have lost a special person or a parent who has a terminal illness. They believe that no child should face grief alone.
During Chris’ vital training and fundraising, we’ve been arranging local fundraising activities. In June, we worked with St Joseph Primary School, Devonport where headmaster Mr Gill generously allowed us access to the school premises to hold a ‘ Get Active’ fundraising event. 120 pupils of the school challenged Chris throughout the day to collectively cycle 100 miles against Chris on static bikes. The children cycled 156 miles and smashed their target. We even had a special visitor who challenged Chris! Jeremiah Bear made an appearance and completed some miles on the bike too.
We hit our initial fundraising target of £3000 with support from friends, family and local businesses in particularly Gary Treeby, owner of Dusty Bins Skip Hire who generously donated £1000 to help the children and families of Jeremiah’s Journey. Mortimers Jewellers, Classic Builders Ltd and Exeter Finance have all very generously supported. We are delighted with our current fundraising total of £3120, however we would love to smash this total and help Jeremiah to help more young people, when they need it most.
We will be continuing to raise more vital funds up to and during Chris’ magnificent cycle challenge. We’ve found this year exceptionally rewarding and the best is still yet to come! We’re already planning something to compete with this challenge for next year!
Article by Jo Heaphy
If you would like to donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/j-heaphy
