A Cumbrian three-year-old has reached the halfway point in her mission to climb 12 Wainwrights in 12 months to help fight poverty in Cumbria.
Grace Bradunas, aged three, of Flimby, has climbed six out of the 12 Wainwright fells and has so far raised over £1,000 for for No Rainbows Without Rain – a Workington based charity that helps Cumbrian people in need.
The youngster’s mum Miriam Johnston and dad Ellis Bradunas have joined her on her walks along with other family members, friends and supporters.
Grace has so far climbed Binsey, Sale, Loughrigg, Castle Crag, Walla Crag, and Little Mell Fell.
She will climb Catbells next and is well on track to finish her challenge in December.
Miriam said: “It’s been going really well, some fells have been a little more challenging than others, but Grace has absolutely loved every minute of it.
“On Loughrigg we had good little crowd of about 15 people and we had lots of different ages. The youngest was two right up to my mam who is 73 and she did fantastically.
“We’ve raised over £849 on the GoFundMe and our cash bucket has over £300 in it and Grace is so chuffed about it.
“One of my mam’s friends gives her money for each fell and she gives her it in five pence pieces so that she can put the money in the bucket because she really enjoys doing that!
“But she keeps asking me have I raised any more? And I tell her yep you’ve raised more, you’re going to make sure Christmas is alright in Cumbria.
“She doesn’t fully know how far £1,000 will go, but the food parcels that No Rainbows Without Rain provide to people cost around £35, so it’s a lot of food parcels and I’m hoping we can get even more donations in.”
Miriam said the family’s favourite walk so far has been Walla Crag for the views.
She added: “On every summit we’ve stood at to take a picture she faces home, so she knows where she’s come from.
“It was just a little silly thing at first but now it’s become a little ritual for us and we use the compass and find home, but it’s also teaching her the skills of using a compass and how to look at a map.
“But she just doesn’t give up on them at all, she knows when she’s doing her fells it’s a challenge and she’s got to get to the top and to the bottom.”
Miriam added that the family have had lots of support from the local community, friends, family and the team at No Rainbows Without Rain.
Tickinemoff’s Leo Mason also joined Grace for her walk up Castle Crag.
The family also wrote to the King and David Attenborough and they received a letter back from the palace on behalf of the King congratulating Grace on her efforts.
Miriam said: “It has spiralled into being more than just fundraising, we’ve written to the King and had a letter back from the palace and we’ll treasure that forever.
“It has definitely pushed as a family to do more and get out and about and experience more in Cumbria.
“It has been a great experience for her and as a parent doing it with her as well.”
Miriam said the challenge has also proven a major source of learning for Grace.
She added: “She’s learning so much about the world around her and I think waterfalls have to be in her top five favourite things, she’s just mesmerised by them.
“But when we did Loughrigg fell which is up by Rydal Caves, the amount of litter up there we saw was absolutely appalling.
“We ended up picking up so much that we also decided to do a litter pick on The Line in Workington and we picked up around seven bags of litter in just over an hour.
“It’s mind boggling, but I’m glad we’re able to give Grace the insight and experience to learn to look after the environment and the people around her.”
Grace’s challenge was inspired by her desire to get involved with fundraising for the charity, which her mum volunteers for, and a special small act of kindness from a stranger.
The family were out walking up Dodd the day before New Year’s Eve when Grace started to get a little tired.
A kind man stopped to speak with Grace and told her about ‘top biscuits’ and gave her a biscuit to help boost her to get to the top.
Grace loved the idea of top biscuits and Miriam said if she wanted to get more top biscuits, she would have to reach the top of more hills – and so the challenge was born.
Miriam said: “She’s had loads of top biscuits so far and we’re always taking extra with us and anyone she sees at the top she’ll say she wants to give them some.
“Instead of just having biscuits in my bag, I have biscuits in a carrier bag in my bag so Grace can run around at the top and hand them out!”
Both Miriam and her mum Jill have been volunteering for No Rainbows Without Rain since August last year and last year Miriam took on a firewalk to help raise money for the charity.
Grace got to watch her mum take on the walk and also watched some of the New Year’s Eve sea dippers in Whitehaven – which Miriam said left Grace wanting to join in.
All of Grace’s walks are shared online as informal events on the No Rainbows Without Rain page and people are welcome to join in at their own discretion.
The family also bring a pink donation bucket on the walks at Grace’s request.
Miriam said: “Some people are sponsoring her per fell and it’s just lovely to see the total raising.
“It’s nice to think she’s done all this so young as well, it’ll be something for her to be really proud of when she’s older.”
No Rainbows Without Rain helps people facing poverty in Cumbria by providing essentials like food parcels through its non means tested community pantry, clothing, and household essentials.
It is entirely volunteer run and the team deliver their essentials like food parcels all across Cumbria from Barrow right up to Carlisle.
The charity also runs a Secret Santa appeal, where it provides presents and dinners to families in need of support as well as vulnerable or isolated people.
Last Christmas alone, the charity supported over 1,300 people and since the charity was first established in 2024, it has raised over £98,250.70p all in the name of supporting people in need.
Any people or businesses interested in supporting Grace’s fundraising efforts can get in touch via her Facebook page here.
You can donate to Grace’s fundraiser here.
You can keep up with Grace’s adventures on Instagram and join in by keeping up with No Rainbows Without Rain on their Facebook page here.
