Meet the supporters stepping up for WellChild during lockdown
WellChild supporters across the UK have been taking on virtual ‘Step-up for WellChild’ challenges during lockdown, helping us recoup the 60% of our income lost through cancelled, or postponed fundraising events and partnerships.
The lockdown ‘week of walking’ challenge
Nine enthusiastic members of the Support Services team at Chiesi took on Louie’s Step Up for WellChild challenge. They all walked 21km in a week and raised a fantastic £430 for WellChild.
The 21k challenge has been set by Louie and his family to represent the daily trips they make for Louie to attend school. 11 year old Louie has complex health needs and the school run for Louie’s mum is more difficult than most. The morning routine can be challenging with three other children to also get to school. Any delays cause Louie to become very distressed and it can take him a couple of hours to calm down. But for mum Laura, these journeys are totally worth it as “the school is perfect for Louie’s needs.”
The Support Services team at Chiesi have all received their medals and wear them with pride.
Ben’s 52k lockdown indoor cycle to raise vital funds for WellChild
When 2020 RideLondon was cancelled due to COVID-19, Ben Harper decided to take on a cycling challenge with a difference. With lockdown restrictions in place, Ben challenged himself to complete a 52k cycle indoors, raising over £100 for WellChild.
Ben completed his indoor cycle by signing up for Jessie’s 52k Step Up for WellChild challenge. The 52k journey represents the distance that Jessie and her mum have to travel for vital medication. Ben completed the challenge with a friend virtually and finished the route in 2 hours.
Ben said about the challenge: “The most [indoor cycling] I have done before is an hour and a half, so Jessie’s challenge gave me that motivation to take the next step. Thinking about Jessie and how her family travel to and from Hospital that distance to receive support kept my motivation up and really inspired me to keep my legs going”
A huge thank you to The Support Services team at Chiesi and to Ben, for raising vital funds to support our work with seriously ill children and their families.
