A town-wide effort to save the Frome cancer counselling charity from closure is running this month with a fundraising 24-hour community relay at the Old Showfield.
The relay will start at 12pm on Saturday 28th March and end at 12pm on Sunday 29th March. Residents will complete one lap of the Old Showfield before handing the baton on to the next person, keeping it moving for 24 hours.
The aim is to raise as much money as possible for We Hear You (WHY), a Frome-based cancer counselling charity, which launched an urgent appeal in January to raise £55,000 by 31st March, or face closure.
Fundraising Ambassador for WHY, Rachel Clark, is organising the event and will be completing a marathon in 24 hours by running one mile every hour.
She said in the first 24 hours of launching the event, residents from over 50 streets signed up to be a part of the challenge.
“Once again, I am overwhelmed by the compassion and the support that the community shows,” said Rachel. “They have just shown up again. These things would not be possible without the community. 50 people and 50 streets in the first 24 hours is remarkable.
“If WHY don’t raise that money, they are going to have to stop. I think the impact will be greater than people realise. A lot of people have grown up with WHY being there; it is over 31 years old. It is serious that they might not get through. I don’t think people realise and I don’t think they will realise until it has gone.
“I think it will be detrimental. I think if it does have to close, the effects will be felt for a long time.”
Rachel has dedicated much of her time to fundraising for WHY, raising £36,500 when she ran one mile a day in 2019, 2024 and 2025.
To sign up for the event and choose a time slot or donate visit https://shorturl.at/uWyYV.
Pictured: Rachel Clark with the WHY relay baton
