Save the UK's CharitiesGeneral fundraising has been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of fundraising events have been cancelled and many charities, particularly smaller ones, are struggling to maintain services because of this huge reduction in income.This impacts all sectors of society from children to the elderly as well as the vital work in areas such as palliative care, serious diseases, mental health, housing support, food supplies and countless others that charities support.

The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday 26 April, is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.

As the event was due to take place on the 26th, covering a distance of 26 miles, people are being asked to come up with fundraising ideas based around either 2.6 or 26. So my plan is to ride 260 miles on the exercise bike currently gathering dust in one of my Dad’s bedrooms. I intend to complete the task in 4 sections of 65 miles between Friday 24th & Monday 27th April. I haven’t been on a bike since I was about 5 so this will be a challenge! 

The charity I am fundraising for is Hospice at Home West Cumbria. The organisation provides high quality, palliative and end of life care to people living in West Cumbria. They are the only provider of adult hospice services in this area. This means that all funds raised by local people helps them to provide care for those in need within their own community. As someone who has benefited from the care provided by Hospice, this means a great deal to me.

If you can spare a few quid, I would be incredibly grateful. Thank you & wish me luck! xxx