Challenges raise £1,815 for Shropshire hospital charity
Staff and volunteers from the League of Friends to Shropshire's orthopaedic hospital raised more than £1,800 by taking on the 2.6 Challenge.
The group from the League of Friends to the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital stepped forward on Sunday to take part in a series of challenges.
The 2.6 Challenge is a nationwide initiative aimed to help charities which are feeling the financial effects of the pandemic from the result of cancelled fundraising events.
The challenge took place on Sunday, on what would have been the 40th London Marathon.
The aim was to inspire people to carry out their own fundraising activities around the numbers 2.6 or 26, while observing isolation and social distancing guidelines.
League of Friends charity director, Victoria Sugden, set herself the challenge of doing a 2.6 km walk in a pair of high heels.
Victoria’s daughter Maddy also joined in dressed in her full goal keeper hockey kit.
Victoria said: “My daughter Maddy and I really enjoyed undertaking the 2.6 Challenge and were totally overwhelmed by the kind support we have had.
"On the day our neighbours came out to bang pans, cheer and clap as we went past – which was lovely and kept us going."
Mike Haddaway, chairman of the League of Friends voluntary services, took part in a 26 mile indoor cycling challenge and drummed up sponsorship from 26 supporters in order to raise vital funds for the hospital Friends.
Mike said: “The League of Friends need our support now more than ever, so I was more than happy to get stuck into this challenge.
"I’m very grateful to everyone who sponsored me."
The charity was lucky to have the support of many other volunteers who undertook their own personal 2.6 Challenges in aid of the league; Sue Kime embarked on a walk from Pant to Llanymynech Golf Course and back, Tim and Daphne Evans also opted for a walking based challenge around their local village and Gill Cripps climbed her garden steps 26 times.
Victoria added: “A massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored us, we raised £1,272 which along with Mike, Sue, Gill, Tim and Daphne totals £1,815.
"Thank you so much to everyone who took part. The money we have raised will help to support our Covid-19 response, doing all we can to care for patients and staff at RJAH.”
If anyone would like to send any last minute donations to Victoria’s JustGiving appeal visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/victoria-s-2-6-challenge1733
