The NHS’s fight against Covid-19, supported by Derbyshire St John Ambulance, has received a financial shot in the arm from Rotarian Cheryle Berry.
The Past District Governor, who is an experienced runner, has run a marathon around her garden accompanied by her three pet sheep.
Doctor Cheryle Berry, is a member of Rotary Clay Cross and a life-long member of St John Ambulance.
She ran around her garden and adjoining paddock 210 times to complete the marathon to complete the 26.2 ‘garden miles’.
Cheryle, has run a marathon around her garden accompanied by her three pet sheep.
It took Cheryle a little over six hours to finish the epic challenge, to the amusement of her three pet sheep: Georgie, Rosie and Violet.
And in the meantime, she has raised a total of £1,417 for the charity.
Derbyshire St John Ambulance is in need of support as it helps the NHS during the pandemic with volunteer staff and ambulances. For example, 200 St John ambulances are working across London.
Cheryle, a retired teacher, headteacher and Director of Education in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Middlesborough, said: “I’ve been staying at home to help the NHS.
“I’ve been a member of St John’s for 50 years and I love running marathons. So, it seemed the thing to do, run a marathon at home and raise money for a charity which is helping the NHS.”
This year is a big year for Cheryle and husband Michael who celebrate their golden wedding.
Cheryle is an experienced marathon runner having completed 15 London marathons and one New York marathon raising around £40,000 for charities.
I’ve been a member of St John’s for 50 years and I love running marathons.
She has a place in the Great North Run in the autumn to raise money for an orphanage in India which she has supported and visited over many years.
In July 2020, Cheryle will take up an appointment with Rotary GBI as team leader for Humanitarian Services.
If you wish to make a donation you can do so by going online: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cheryle-berry-marathon
In a similar vein, Telford Centre Rotary embarked on a marathon effort to raise money for foodbanks in the Shropshire town.
The Rotarians took part in a “Marathon Plus”, by exercising in their gardens or the outskirts of their homes – either walking or running – to complete a combined marathon distance of 26.2 miles.
Telford Centre Rotaryembarked on a marathon effort to raise money for foodbanks in the Shropshire town.”
Among those who took part was the Mayor of Telford & Wrekin, Councillor Stephen Reynolds. He completed the miles from the refuge of his garden.
He told the Shropshire Star: “It is vital now more than ever that as a community we come together to assist our most vulnerable.
“It has been remarkable to see the generosity so far and I have great pleasure in wishing the club members the best of luck with this initiative.”
It is vital now more than ever that as a community we come together to assist our most vulnerable.”
The money raised will be distributed between foodbanks in Telford and the Hadley Learning Community (HLC) foodbox scheme. HLC is providing food boxes for local families which have been identified as needing extra support.
And over the border in South Wales, Newport’s Rotarians have been exercising to raise more than £8,300 for St David’s Hospice Care.
Each Rotarian has been challenged to complete 10km within the constraints of social distancing. As a result, some are walking on public paths, others are exercising at home, or using static bikes and cross trainers.
Mike Hine completed his 10km challenged by walking from Wales to England and back across the Severn Bridge.
One of the most resourceful Rotarian was Mike Hine from St Woolos Rotary, who completed his 10km challenged by walking from Wales to England and back across the Severn Bridge.
Stephen Phillips, who is President of St Woolos Rotary, completed the task by walking up and down his drive more than 500 times. And Morris dancer, Brian Cox, helped fund-raise by practising his moves on the Ridgeway.
Hitchin Tilehouse Rotary in Hertfordshire has raised just over £6,000 from various fund-raising initiatives, including The 2.6 Challenge.
Forced to cancel two of their three major annual fund-raisers; the Hitchin Hard Half Marathon and their Spirit of Hitchin Gin Festival, the club would have struggled to provide vital support to charities, particularly those dealing with food poverty, mental health and social isolation during the national lockdown.
So the club created ‘The 2.6 Challenge’ and the ‘Breakfast Account Appeal’
As part of the national 2.6 Challenge, club members came up with a variety of activities to raise funds, tackling challenges with a theme of 2 and 6 such as cycling 26 miles on a static bike in the garage, putting 26 golf balls in the living room, watching 26 episodes of M.A.S.H., walking for 26 minutes in the garden, wearing 26 hats in 2.6 minutes, performing 26 karate kata moves and doing 26 jumps on a trampoline.
As part of the national 2.6 Challenge, club members came up with a variety of activities to raise funds, tackling challenges such as cycling 26km.
At the same time, the club identified that there was quite a sizable surplus of monies that had built up in the ‘breakfast account’ of various members which was not needed to pay for the weekly breakfast meeting.
The Hitchin Tilehouse Rotarians launched an appeal to its members asking them to consider moving a portion of those monies to a trust account, completing a gift aid form, where appropriate, to boost the donation.
Fiona Gray, President of Hitchin Tilehouse Rotary, said: “The Breakfast Account Appeal and The 2.6 Challenge was a great way to focus our efforts to fundraise and replace lost income from the cancellation of two of our major fund-raising events.
As part of the national 2.6 Challenge, club members came up with a variety of activities to raise funds, tackling challenges with a theme of 2 and 6 such as cycling 26 miles on a static bike in the garage.”
“Club members were incredibly generous with their breakfast account gifting and support of the 2.6 Challenge.
“These were really innovative ways in which members united and took action to raise money whilst getting active and having fun.
“This is Rotary at its best; working together and responding to the challenges of these difficult times to make a difference in our community and beyond.”
In Hampshire, Romsey Test Rotary is seeking support from Rotarians and the public for its ‘Walk the Test another Way’ project.
The Rotary club has had to abandon its traditional fund-raiser of a sponsored walk along the picturesque Test Way.
Now, as an alternative, they are inviting participants to raise funds for your favourite charity by tackling the physical challenge in a different manner.
Walk The Test Another Way 2020 https://t.co/PIsUg8uD28 via @YouTube
Brilliant initative for you to raise money for the charity of your choice.— Jennifer Wineberg (@JenniferWinebe1) April 30, 2020
Dr Stuart Wineberg from Romsey Test Rotary explained: “Due to the impact of Covid-19, there is an overwhelming desire for people to do something now to help raise funds for charities, at a time when they need it the most.
“People are asking, what can I do to make a difference?
“In response, we are pleased to announce that we have launched, ‘Walk the Test another Way’, to provide people with an opportunity to raise funds for the charity of your choice.
“You, your family and friends wherever they live in the UK or further afield can raise funds for your favourite charity by walking at or from home to comply with the current social distancing guidelines.”
We are pleased to announce that we have launched, ‘Walk the Test another Way’, to provide people with an opportunity to raise funds for the charity of your choice.”
All money raised will go to charity. All walkers when they register will have the opportunity to say which Rotary club, if any prompted, them to take part. They will track the funds raised by these walkers and 5% of the amount raised will be remitted to the referring Rotary club.
Asked why can’t people just do some fund-raising on their own, Dr Wineberg replied: “Of course they can. However, we have created an administration process, a website and a sense of a larger community that people can join in with through their Facebook and Instagram posts.
“Everyone will get tangible recognition in the form of a medal for taking part.
“We will manage the entire process of ensuring that their nominated charity receives the funds.
“In addition, this initiative provides an important source of funds for Rotary itself to do its work locally.”
For more details, log onto: www.walkthetestway.org.uk
