An 82-year-old Nantwich man who founded an international charity, is following in Captain Tom Moore’s footsteps by raising vital funds with a marathon walk in his garden!
David Maidment is the founder of the Railway Children, an international children’s charity based in Sandbach.
It is among hundreds of UK charities facing a huge fundraising deficit with so many events such as London Marathon cancelled due to Coronavirus.
But now it has launched a new event to help good causes raise funds that are more urgent than ever in these difficult times.
The 2.6 Challenge is a fundraising event open to everyone – marathon fit or not – and thousands are taking up the challenge based on the number 26.
People can run 26 miles, walk around their garden for 26 miles or 26 days, or create their own challenge involving the number 26!
And charity founder David, a former British Rail professional, decided to lead the way and has committed to taking up the 2.6 Challenge.
Despite his age, and being confined to his home, he has vowed to walk two miles in laps of his garden in Nantwich for the next 13 days – until he reaches his 26-mile goal.
He said: “It’s not easy being stuck at home in these strange times, but I know that I am one of the lucky ones as I have a home I can stay safely in.
“So many of the children Railway Children works with do not have that luxury and our teams need to be able to reach them now more than ever.
“I know they are all doing everything they can to achieve that so I’m doing my bit too and hope I can raise a bit of money to help them keep those children safe.”
Railway Children reaches and protects vulnerable children in East Africa, India and the UK.
These young people are more at risk than ever due to the impact of Coronavirus so the Cheshire charity’s work is needed now more than ever.
In India many of the families they work with have already lost all income and are in desperate situations.
Railway Children teams are delivering emergency parcels of flour, rice, oil and soap that will last four weeks and each bundle of supplies costs £26.
The charity is urging people to support them through the 2.6 Challenge by raising £26 with their own events.
To find out more about Railway Children’s 2.6 Challenge, to set up your own event or to donate visit www.railwaychildren.org.uk/twopointsix/
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