CHAMPION charity fundraiser, Rachel Clark, has set this year’s challenge of running a mile a day throughout 2024, to raise money for the local cancer charity We Hear You (WHY), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Over the past 10 years, Rachel has raised nearly £70,000 for WHY through various fundraising challenges. In 2019, Rachel ran a mile a day for WHY in memory of her mother, raising over £18,000, and she has decided to take up the challenge again, five years on, to mark 30 years of WHY.
During her decade of charity fundraising, Rachel has broken two Guinness World Records and seen over 7,000 people join in with her various fundraising events – she won the Institute of Fundraising’s Volunteer of the Year award 2020 and was Frome Times’ Person of the Year in 2018.
The money raised over the years has funded the equivalent of 1,400 counselling sessions for someone impacted by cancer or a life-threatening condition.
“I’ve decided to do it again on the back of the success from 2019 and to mark the 30th anniversary of WHY this year,” she explained. “It evolved into a fantastic community event on a daily basis. Since then, we’ve been through a global pandemic and it felt right to do it again now, one last time!
“The challenge started on New Year’s Day; I had a soft launch as I only decided to go ahead 48hrs before! I was deliberating for many weeks. It’s going extremely well, so far to date over 60 people have joined in and donations are coming in too.
“Since I started fundraising for WHY over a decade ago, I have raised nearly £70,000 through my once-a-year challenges- this one is special as it’s every day. 2024 is a leap year so I’ll have an extra mile to do! I have no target this year, I never do. In 2019 this challenge evolved into something quite incredible, with over 5,000 people running with me (including nearly every school in Frome!) I hope for this to be repeated this year. Individuals, schools, clubs, teams, companies are all welcome and I have already been planning (with WHY) some special miles for the coming year.”
Rachel has raised nearly £150 so far this year and she has been documenting her runs on Facebook and Instagram. She posts the details of where and when she will be running a day before the run and encourages anyone from the town to join her.
“I have not run a local mile (in Frome) alone yet, there has always been someone that greets me, donates, wears a WHY t-shirt and runs with me,” she explained. “Some people that join me are complete strangers! The concept is very simple but effective; you simply have to wear a WHY t-shirt (I have a supply) so we can raise awareness of this local Frome charity and make a donation of what you can.
“Every penny adds up throughout the year. I am not a runner, hence the challenge! I train regularly to keep fit but do not run. I am encouraging people to join me at any pace this challenge is not about time, is about taking part and making a difference. It’s more than just a mile!
“I’m in a fortunate position to be fit and healthy enough to raise money for WHY, so I do. All my fundraising is in memory of my mum who passed away in 2011. I continue to give back after the counselling I received when I needed it. My fundraising has evolved from individual challenges, family and friends and now community. The ripple effect goes a very long way and I want to keep it going!”
To keep up to date with Rachel’s fundraising efforts, ‘like’ the Facebook page 365 miles for WHY 2024 or follow 365forWHY2024 on Instagram. To donate, visit https://bit.ly/donate-365forwhy-24
WHY provides counselling and emotional support for patients, families, friends and carers who have been affected or bereaved by cancer or any other life-threatening condition. For more information on their services, visit their website at https://www.wehearyou.org.uk/
