THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
July 2010
A team of super-fit athletes will be putting their bodies to the ultimate test to raise funds for disabled children.
Oliver Mansfield and nine colleagues are set to cycle, walk, run and kayak 240 miles from High Wycombe to the Isle of Wight to raise £40,000 for Newlife Foundation.
Newlife runs an equipment grant service for disabled children and his given away almost £4.7 million in the past five years to those turned away by statutory authorities, but now has a shortfall of £249,451.07 and a waiting list of 140 children.
The WightOut Challenge will be Oliver’s fifth event for Newlife and over the past eight years he’s raised £60,000 for the charity, but wants this event to be his biggest so far.
He says: “This is our fifth and final challenge and it will be the most challenging one to date. I have raised funds for other charities before, and once I’d paid the money into the bank for them, all I had to show for it was a bank stub and I didn’t know where the money was going. When I heard about Newlife I fell in love with the charity as the money raised goes to the right places. You can see how the equipment makes a difference to children and their families and it’s so terrible to know that there are children suffering in pain for the sake of equipment that can easily be purchased. We are trying to change this by taking part in this challenge.”
The WightOut Challenge will start with an 85-mile bike ride from Holmer Green, High Wycombe to Southampton. They’ll then take a Ferry to Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, walk 25 miles to Sandown, kayak 35 miles to Freshwater Bay, walk 20 miles to Cowes, take a ferry to Southampton then ride 85 miles back to Holmer Green.
The non-stop challenge will take 40 hours and start on Friday 2nd July and end on Saturday 3rd July.
Newlife CEO Sheila Brown OBE says: “The disabled children we help need hope and the WightOut team are giving those children hope of a better tomorrow. I know this team and I know they give 100% of themselves, that’s why Newlife will guarantee that 100% of the funds they raise will be used to buy equipment such as wheelchairs and beds to give children the practical help they need. I would encourage anyone who can to support this fantastic challenge.”
Supporters can either give money towards the challenge at www.justgiving.com/wightout or take part in fundraising events at www.wightout.co.uk.
For further details about Newlife see www.newlifecharity.co.uk.
