Two senior leaders from North East Lincolnshire’s children’s services team have taken on one of Yorkshire’s toughest walking challenges to help launch a special fundraising appeal aimed at bringing joy to local children in care.
Ben Dent, Deputy Service Director for Children in Care and Care Leavers, and Charlene Sykes, Service Director for Help, Protection, Care, Care Leavers and Youth Justice, have just completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, a gruelling 24-mile route across the Yorkshire Dales which sees participants climb Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.
The challenge was undertaken to help raise awareness of a new staff-led fundraising campaign to create life-size versions of Duggie and Dorothy, the much-loved cuddly mascots of North East Lincolnshire’s fostering service.
Duggie and Dorothy have become familiar companions to children living with fostering families across the borough, joining them on days out, holidays and all manner of adventures!
Now colleagues, foster carers, local businesses and community supporters are being invited to help fundraise for life-size mascot costumes, allowing Duggie and Dorothy to attend fostering events, celebrations, school visits and community activities throughout the area.
A challenge for a special cause
Despite difficult terrain, steep climbs and many hours on foot, Ben and Charlene successfully completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to help kick-start the appeal.
Ben said: “Completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks was without doubt the toughest physical challenge I’ve ever taken on. I quickly realised I hadn’t quite appreciated the scale of it, or just how high some of those peaks really are! But whenever it felt difficult, it reminded me of the physical and emotional challenges many of our children face every day. To reach the finish line, we had to show the same resilience, determination and perseverance that our children demonstrate in working towards their own goals.”
“Raising awareness of the vital role foster carers play in the lives of local children is incredibly important. We need more people to open their homes and hearts to children in our community who need support. Duggie and Dorothy have already helped us shine a spotlight on fostering and celebrate the life-changing difference our carers make. I’m proud to have played a small part in helping them reach even more people and support our ongoing mission to recruit more foster carers for local children.”
“It has been fantastic to see colleagues, friends and members of the local community get behind this appeal.
Charlene said: “The challenge served as a great reminder of what children need from the adults around them to help them thrive; ambition, a team around them supporting and cheerleading for them, resilience, determination, fun, laughter, the ability to wing it sometimes and someone walking alongside them who believes they can do it, even when they aren’t entirely sure themselves!”
Ann-Marie Matson, Director of Children’s Services, said: “Seeing Ben and Charlene take on such an incredible challenge reflects the commitment and compassion that runs through our children’s services teams every day. Duggie and Dorothy bring comfort, joy and a sense of belonging to children and foster families, and this appeal is a lovely example of colleagues, carers and communities coming together to create something special for our children.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here: tinyurl.com/2j8z6ywt
For more information about the appeal or how to support the project, contact the North East Lincolnshire Fostering Team at fosteringandadoption@nelincs.gov.uk or Paul.Cowling@nelincs.gov.uk.
Ends
Notes to editors
- The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge covers approximately 24 miles (38.6km).
- Participants climb Pen-y-ghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m).
- The challenge is traditionally completed within 12 hours.
- Funds raised will support the creation of life-size Duggie and Dorothy mascot costumes through voluntary fundraising and community support.
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