When is one step a giant step? For Hexham resident Rebecca, one step is small in distance but huge in effort – and Rebecca has pledged to walk not just a few steps but 200.6m every day for The 2.6 Challenge, to fundraise for us at Livability.
Livability was set to lose millions of pounds when the pandemic forced the charity to cancel all its public fundraising events. Now Livability is encouraging supporters to take part in The 2.6 Challenge, a new, ongoing fundraising initiative supporting charities hit hard by the coronavirus restrictions.
Enter Rebecca, who has cerebral palsy and lives at Livability Hallgate, a supported living service in the market town of Hexham. Her disability severely limits her mobility – but she was highly motivated to take on the challenge after she saw what Captain Tom achieved in his now-famous garden circuits to fundraise for the NHS.
Rebecca is walking 200.6m every day round the Hallgate garden, supported by her keyworker Paul and enthusiastic housemates like Angela. Her goal is to reach a total of 5000m, which will take her some 25 days.
Rebecca is profoundly intellectually disabled, so does not express much in words, but when asked how she feels about the challenge she is taking on, she has a huge smile on her face and laughs and shouts with delight.
‘200m may not sound much but with the effort it takes Rebecca, it’s akin to an able-bodied person climbing Mount Everest on their hands and knees!’ says Paul Wall, Rebecca’s keyworker.
‘Rebecca has already raised over £1,000 and I hope we can keep raising a lot more,’ says Michelle Earle, deputy manager for Livability Northumberland services.
As well as raising valuable funds for the charity, Rebecca’s 2.6 Challenge is proving a huge boost to wellbeing, says Paul. ‘Rebecca is very motivated and this is as much about keeping morale and fitness up. Her friends come out to support her and we’re all so proud of her – friends, people who live here and family members. She’s really excited about it.’
Rebecca’s 2.6 Challenge can be supported on her Just Giving page here