Story
🎄 Saphia’s Festive Food Bank Challenge
At just 9 years old - and fresh from winning the BBC Make a Difference Award for Young Hero - Saphia has already made a life-changing difference to families in need. For the past four Christmases, she has set herself tough festive fitness challenges - from star jumps and cartwheels to hundreds of burpees - all to raise money for local food banks. This is her fifth year fundraising.
Since the age of 6, Saphia has raised over £1,800, filling 12 supermarket trolleys with nutritious food, drinks, and essential hygiene products. She handpicks every single item herself, always thinking about what will provide the most nutrition for families who are struggling.
When people ask her why she does it, her answer is simple:
I want to help people that can't afford food
🎄 This Years' Challenge:
This Christmas, Saphia has set herself her biggest challenge yet: 400 burpees and 1,500 jumping jacks! She’ll be completing them in the run-up to Christmas, all in the name of raising funds for families who need our help the most.
Whether it’s £1, £5, or £20 - every donation helps fill another trolley.
🏆 Recognised as a Young Hero
On Friday 19th September 2025, Saphia won the BBC Make a Difference Award Young Hero category for her incredible commitment to helping others.
But the truth is, her fundraising is never about recognition. For Saphia, the highlight of Christmas isn’t the presents under the tree, it’s her fundraiser. Alongside family time, her festive challenge is always what she looks forward to the most.
💪 Small Girl, Big Challenges
2021 (Age 5): Painted and auctioned snowmen to buy gifts for children in need.
2022 (Age 6): Star jumps and cartwheels, raising £447.
2023 (Age 7): 170 burpees and 250 jumping jacks, aiming for £300 but raising £520, filling 3 trollies.
2024 (Age 8): 1,000 jumping jacks and 250 burpees, aiming for £521 but raising £850, filling 5 trollies.
Every year, she sets herself a new target, and every year she smashes it, proving that even the smallest person can make the biggest difference. And as she always says,
Even giving £1 can make a big difference
🌈 The Heart Behind the Hero
Saphia’s capacity to love and care so deeply comes from emotions so vast that they sometimes overwhelm her. She feels everything intensely; joy, frustration, compassion, and rage. She isn’t just “good” and “lovely” all the time; her depth of anger mirrors the depth of her kindness, her frustration is matched only by her incredible ability to love. Without those ‘negative’ emotions, she wouldn’t have the same boundless drive to help others. They are two sides of the same coin, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
Her dream? To inspire other children to fundraise too, whether for food banks or any cause close to their heart.
Together, we can make sure no family goes hungry this Christmas.
Thank you for supporting Saphia’s mission 💙 Every donation makes a huge difference, and Saphia is so grateful for every single one. She would love to say thank you personally, so please do leave your name if possible.
📸 Here are some photos of last Christmas’ fundraiser (with YOUR help, she managed to fill FIVE trollies!!!):
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails.
