FROME’S fundraiser extraordinaire, Rachel Clark, has won the prestigious Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year in the National Fundraising Awards 2020.
She received the news today, Friday 29th May, on the anniversary of her mum’s death which set her on her mammoth fund-raising efforts for WHY, We Hear You, the Frome based cancer counselling charity.
“I’m absolutely amazed,” Rachel told Frome Times. “I genuinely didn’t expect to win.
“I was up against some amazing people including Jamie McDonald, last year’s Pride of Britain winner; actress Sarah Parish; Joan Webb, a 100-year-old volunteer for the RNLI and the Fundraising Team for Pride in London who are all doing fantastic fund-raising work.
“I’m really humbled to receive the award but it’s great to be able to help put WHY, a small local charity on the national map for the work they do.
“I actually found out I had won the award when I was putting flowers on my mum’s grave today on the anniversary of her death so it was a really poignant moment. My fund-raising is in memory of her.”
On New Year’s Day 2019, Rachel set herself the challenge of running a mile every day for 365 days in aid WHY, in memory of her mum. Her final total was a massive £20,000. Overall over 5,000 people ran with Rachel during the year.
This year she is still fund-raising and today is completing a ‘virtual reunion mile’.
“You can still join me in a virtual reunion mile: run or walk a mile anytime today, Friday 29th May,” she said. “Make a donation however small to WHY; Take a selfie and post up on 365 miles for WHY page or send to me; Wear a WHY T-shirt if you have one.
“Anytime, anywhere, anyone can make a difference..”
For more details, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/WHYCOVID19CAMPAIGN
Congratulations from WHY
WHY’s director Melissa Hillier said: “I was so delighted to hear that Rachel Clark has won the prestigious Institute of Fundraising’s Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award – what an amazing achievement for a truly amazing person!
“Rachel has raised more than £55,000 since 2011, funding £1,250 counselling sessions for children and adults affected by cancer and life-threatening conditions in Somerset, B&NES and Wiltshire. Just as importantly, she’s a true ambassador for WHY, raising awareness of the support we offer and using her seemingly endless drive, energy and gift for communicating to raise our profile and inspire others to get involved.
“It’s fantastic that today’s announcement coincides with a busy day for Rachel as a volunteer fundraiser, as she invites some of the 5,000 people who joined her in her ‘365 for WHY’ mile-a-day challenge in 2019 to run a ‘virtual reunion mile’. It isn’t coincidental that it’s happening today – all Rachel’s fundraising is a tribute to her mum Shirley, who sadly died of leukaemia on this day in 2011, so today’s event, like 365 for WHY, 2018’s world record-breaking rowathon, cycle challenges and more is in her memory.
“Well done Rachel and thank you so very much for all your fundraising and awareness-raising for our charity – it means the world to us and more importantly to those who need our support.”
More about the awards and the full list of winners and nominees can be found at https://www.new.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/awards/home.
To find out more about We Hear You’s free professional counselling service for people affected by cancer and life-threatening conditions, including Covid-19, please email info@wehearyou.org.uk or call 01373 455255.
We Hear You works across Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire supporting anyone affected by cancer and life threatening conditions and provides 115 counselling sessions each week from 20 locations at a cost of more than £5,000. The charity receives no government funding and relies on donations and support from the communities it works in.
