You have 0 items in your cart
Two Catching Lives supporters have launched sponsored events to raise money for people experiencing homelessness.
Matt Gillett, a former client, volunteer and Project Worker, is undertaking an April Fool’s Day walk – trekking 17.4 miles from Canterbury to Ramsgate on April 1.
Matt, who raised £460 for Catching Lives with a sponsored walk from Canterbury to Margate last August, said: “What inspired me was the continued hard work that goes into helping those in need of Catching Lives services. Being an ex-volunteer and staff member, I have had the pleasure of getting to a know some of the clients and know how much they appreciate all that Catching Lives do to help them in the ways that they need.
“I’m feeling very positive about my upcoming sponsored walk. I did one last year and although rough it was very rewarding and felt like a great achievement.
“I would like to say to anyone who is thinking of supporting me is that any donation will go to helping those on need and to help the continuation of all the great work Catching Lives does.
“This charity helped me change my life on many occasions. From being homeless they helped me get a place to live, gave me the opportunity to work for them for a while a helped me achieve full-time work working in a restaurant.
“They are an amazing charity and I just want to do my bit to give something back.”
Meanwhile, Nick Rendall from Benenden is running an incredible 1,000kms – 10km a day for 100 days from March 29 in memory of Catching Lives supporter Tracy Claridge.
Nick said: “I have been inspired by the Benenden Community’s fundraising over previous years for Catching Lives – in the past I volunteered for a homeless charity in the North of England and feel strongly about social injustice and I want to actively support a charity which is making such a valuable difference. I’m looking forward to getting going – I’ve been thinking about it for some time.”
Nick is a teacher and the school he works in is doing a “100 acts of kindness” initiative.
He added: “I thought that this was the right opportunity to have a go at a challenge and do something which is a sizeable commitment over three months. I like the maxim ‘don’t look at the hill, climb it’ – that’s what I’m telling myself when I look at the 1000kms figure.”
To fit round other commitments, Nick is planning his weekday runs at about 5.30am/5.40am in the morning and he is hoping other people might join him for some of the runs.
He said: “It would great to have company – I will be doing some runs at a more reasonable time at weekends and will post them on my social media account and on my JustGiving page. All abilities welcome. I am also asking people to recommend things to listen to for the 5.30am starts – again get in touch.”
Both Matt and Nick have fundraising pages. You can sponsor Matt here and Nick here.
