PAC

Please note that we are not taking new referrals for our 1-1 service at the moment but our phone lines remain open. Please call to discuss other options for support.
Please note that we are not taking new referrals for our 1-1 service at the moment but our phone lines remain open. Please call to discuss other options for support.

China Trekkers smash fundraising target for WHY…

Back in October 2016 two supporters of We Hear You took on the challenge of a lifetime and trekked across the Great Wall of China. Their efforts have raised an amazing £8,510.74 for the charity.

Dot Cretney, 68 and Karl Waldeck, 47, spent 5 days trekking across watch towers and historic battlement stations, as well as conquering the 1,000 steps up to the wall at Mutianyu. Part of the trek involved each participant laying a brick on part of the wall that is currently being reconstructed.

Dot and Karl chose to undertake the trek in aid of the charity, which provides counselling services across Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire, to people affected by cancer and other life threatening conditions. Their fundraising efforts mean over 190 sessions of counselling can now be provided. 

The duo spent 18 months fundraising for WHY in the lead up to the trek, holding coffee mornings, race nights and quiz nights, making jam and holding raffles, to raise as much money as possible. They originally had a target to raise £6,000 and have exceeded this beyond anyone’s expectations.

Dot said, “Eighteen months ago I persuaded Karl to come with me to China to walk the Great Wall. As the days for departure grew nearer I realised I must have been slightly crazy for taking this challenge on, given what it involved, but I loved it! I now have the desire to do as many challenges as I can possibly do before age defies me. I have met people who will become friends for life and met people who I found inspirational. But the challenges I faced on this trek are nothing compared with the challenges people with serious illness face every day. My admiration is for these people. To everyone who supported us during our fundraising year, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We had a ball, but hope that none of us have to go through what charities such as WHY have to see.”

Gemma Wilkes, Fundraiser for WHY said “Dot and Karl are an inspiration and we are exceptionally grateful to them for undertaking this incredible challenge on our behalf. They have had just the most amazing experience and we are so privileged to have been part of this with them. At the moment referrals for our support are at a record high and we cannot thank them enough for their amazing contribution. Their fundraising has been phenomenal and the money they’ve raised will fund hundreds of counselling sessions, for the local community.

Taking part in a challenge event enables people to create memorable experiences, meet new people as well as raise much needed funds for We Hear You. We hope Dot and Karl’s experience inspire others to take on their own personal challenges.”

If you’re inspired by the idea of undertaking such a challenge, WHY would love to hear from you. A broad range of challenges are available to take part in, both near and far, available for people to take part in or can help people create a challenge of their own. More information is available on the We Hear You website here or contact us on fundraising@wehearyou.org.uk

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