Quick thinking fundraisers who signed up for challenge events that aren’t taking place because of lockdown say they can still raise vital funds for Carer Support South Lakes.
The news has been welcomed by the charity’s chief exec who says help for carers relies on £75,000 being generated by kind-hearted people through individual giving and by taking on challenge events.
With key events in the fundraising calendar on hold, as the country responds to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, Mike Seaton says supporters have come up with alternative events that meet social distancing rules.
Tomorrow Friday (1 May) a teacher from Kendal’s Sandgate School will run up and down his street 290 times to replicate a marathon he was due to run in May. Evan Shanks had signed up for the Windermere Marathon, as a fundraiser for Carer Support South Lakes, but the event has been postponed until November. As his own garden is too small he looked to his 200 year old street as a venue.
The seasoned runner hopes to complete his alternative Union Street marathon in under four and half hours, taking care to navigate small numbers of people and cars. Evan, who is working from home to support his pupils, says his two children will be on hand to encourage him and will run some laps with him too.
Evan Shanks says he’s always run for charity and was pleased to be given a place in last year’s Great North Run as a fundraiser for Carer Support South Lakes. Evan says through his work at the special educational needs school, he gets to see how the money he raises for Carer Support South Lakes benefits carers.
And with news that Windermere’s Great North Swim will no longer take place next month (June), David Fitzpatrick has come up with his own alternative challenge. David will swim one mile in a lake near his Lincoln home with the aim of raising over £1,000 for Carer Support South Lakes.
South Lakeland’s only carer support charity helps around 1,250 unpaid carers, aged between six and 98-years-old. A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a parent, partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, substance misuse or disability.
There are thousands of carers in South Lakeland. Many juggle work, school, or other commitments along with their caring role, and most don’t think of themselves as carers, nor do they realise the range of services available to help them.
Mike Seaton hopes alternative fundraising activity will mean the charity doesn’t face a shortfall, as he explains:
“It’s brilliant that people have come up with different ways to fundraise. We wish Evan and David all the best with their challenge events and we would encourage others to do something similar for us. It could be cycling or walking.
“This income is so important, it means we can help carers of all ages who do an incredibly difficult and invisible job day in, day out. It’s even harder for carers right now and it’s critical that we can continue to provide this vital lifeline now and out of lockdown.
“We are urging anyone who is saving money, by being at home, to make a donation to our virtual online bucket too. We would also welcome volunteers,” adds Mike Seaton.
The charity boss says Covid-19 has radically reorganised how the charity is working. He expects changes, like innovative approaches to fundraising, to be the start of new effective practices along with a new wave of civic participation helping those in need in the community.
Mike Seaton said it’s also been heartening to have the support of local companies like E S Hartley who have joined up with Europe’s largest rental company Touring Cars to raffle a one week holiday in a five star luxury motorhome for up to six people. All proceeds will go to Carer Support South Lakes.
To support Evan Shanks visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EvanShankss
Carer Support South Lakes is an independent, local charity and network partner of Carers Trust. Based in Kendal, they provide a range of services to support and enhance the lives of unpaid carers of all ages throughout South Lakeland. For more information about how they can help anyone who is in a caring role visit their website at https://carersupportsouthlakes.org.uk/
