Latest news with #charitychallenge
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Jersey teams to race from St Malo to Prague for charity
A Jersey charity has set up a challenge inspired by a BBC One Jersey Employment Trust (JET) said its Race Across the World challenge would see teams of two race from St Malo to Prague over one weekend in 2024, the JET Jaunt saw 17 teams raced from St Malo to Monaco to support islanders with disabilities or long-term health conditions in the workplace, raising £24, fundraising manager Caroline Spencer said it wanted to build on last years event. She said: "The Jaunt is a great way to challenge yourself, think on the hoof, and see how you and your team-mate cope with the added pressure of a race."For most of us these days, we travel with quite a fixed itinerary - this throws that out of the window. "You can't pre-book buses or trains because you don't know what we might ask you to do along the way."Race Across the World is currently available to stream on iPlayer. The JET Jaunt challenged teams to take a selfie in a certain street in St Malo, take a photo of the Owl of Dijon and take a team photo at the statue of F1 driver Juan Manuel in 2024 Lucy Gomes and her friend Sarah Parker said the challenge was "too good an opportunity to miss".Ms Gomes said: "It was so much fun, we really enjoyed the challenges and loved seeing each city along the way. "The time restrictions and the unknown put us both out of our comfort zones, which certainly kept the adrenaline going through the race." 'Exhilarating and challenging' Joanne Vandermerwe-Mahon travelled with her 12-year-old daughter Eleanor - the youngest competitor."We took part because we thought it was a great cause and we are fans of the TV show."The race was exhilarating and challenging - it really made us think and plan ahead and at a few points we had to be very sneaky and strategic."Registration is open with an event capacity of 50 teams of two racers.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sam Thompson issues update on his painful calf injury as he's forced to modify the second leg of 'emotional' 260-mile endurance challenge
Sam Thompson has given an update on the calf injury he suffered during the first day of his gruelling journey on both bike and foot from London to Manchester. The I'm A Celeb star, 32, set out on his mission to raise money for Unicef by delivering the Soccer Aid match ball to Old Trafford from Stamford Bridge on Monday. To complete the challenge, Sam is expected to run a marathon for five days and cycle in between, ensuring the ball arrives on June 6 ready for this year's star-studded match on June 15. But during the first leg, the reality TV star suffered a calf injury which left his chances of completing the mission in-doubt. Now, the star has been forced to modify the second leg of his challenge - setting off on bike, rather than on foot, with doctors in doubt over whether he will be able to run at all later in the day. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. At the end of day one, Sam was pictured grimacing while receiving treatment on a medical table before revealing he could 'barely walk'. With the support of his expert physio, Sam is however powering through the setback - with medical professionals advising him to travel from Stadium MK to Villa Park by bicycle. Ahead of the start of the second leg, the 32-year-old reality said: 'Yesterday was really hard. 'The medical team here are looking after me, but it means today I'm starting on the bike so I can use different muscles in my legs to aid my recovery and I hope to be back on my feet soon. 'My goal is to get from Milton Keynes to Villa Park and no matter what I'm getting that ball there - I just need to keep pedaling. 'What I'm trying to do has changed, but why I'm doing it hasn't. I really need your support right now, so any donations or love you can send my way would be so appreciated. It's going to be an emotional day.' Aiming to complete a 72-mile journey through Towcester, Rugby, Coventry and Solihull, medical experts will assess whether Sam can ditch the bike and begin running again throughout the day. Sam's sister Louise revealed on her Instagram Stories on Monday that she almost suffered a breakdown after seeing her sibling's injury. She said in a video: 'I cannot believe I am in my dressing gown but desperate times call for desperate measures. 'I have been following so closely to the Soccer Aid channel, the Instagram, the Instagram Stories, Hits Radio this morning all covering my brother doing his run from here to Manchester. 'And I am literally on the cusp of having a breakdown every time I see stuff. I saw a video of him limping really badly after the first marathon and he has now got to get on a bike and do a really really really long cycle and I am so worried his legs are just going to give in'. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline earlier in the day, Sam opened up about what he believes will be the biggest challenge he'll face during his grueling mission. He said: 'The hard part of this challenge is gonna be the fear of not completing it. 'That that will, is and will always be the hardest thing in my head is the fear of injury and not being able to play it. 'I just, I have to be able to get of course I finish line. 'And like, you've seen how many people are here. Just letting people down is my biggest weakness, so that is terrifying to me.' Sam also gave an update on his relationship with Love Island star Samie Eilishi, 25, after the pair were spotted sharing a kiss in London recently. While his sister Louise and her partner Ryan Libbey were present at the starting line to show their support, Samie was notably absent. Speaking just moments ahead of the challenge, Sam revealed that several close friends, including best mate Jamie Laing, have remained tight-lipped about whether they'll join him along the way. However, he did not confirm whether or not Samie, who he has been dating since April, will be making an appearance. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Sam said: 'Throughout the experience, I hope there'll be a few people.' When asked directly if Samie would be making an appearance, he responded: 'I feel like... this is so much more than who I'm dating or hooking up with. 'And I feel like it would take away from what it is going on. You know what I mean? 'You know, If I had a wife or something like, like a girlfriend of years it might be a different. 'I just think that I don't want to do anything that will take away from this challenge and Unicef - the spotlight needs to be on them. 'Like, I'm literally a vehicle. That's how I'm seeing it. I'm just a thing that is running to try and make money, so I want to keep it that way.' To donate visit
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Son taking on challenge in memory of Orchard Pig founder
A son is attempting to journey from a mountain peak to a palace in a challenge inspired by his late father. Andrew Quinlan died in September 2022 - six months after he was diagnosed with retroperitoneal liposarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue was an ex-marine and later went on to be the founder of Somerset cider business, Orchard Pig. His son, Henry Quinlan, started the Peak2Palace challenge alongside his father-in-law, Damian Lawrence, earlier. They are beginning with a climb of 4,000m (13,123 ft) up Mont Blanc, followed by a 550-mile (549km) cycle across pair will then row 90 miles (144km) across the English Channel, before running almost 100 miles (160km) – the equivalent to nearly four marathons - to the gates of Buckingham Palace. Henry said the challenge was exactly the kind of thing his dad enjoyed Quinlan was in the Royal Marines for eight years and would often tell the family about his excursions."He cycled and ran around Australia in the 1980s and I'd always heard about that story. He really inspired me," Henry said. The 33-year-old, who lives in Bristol and is originally from Glastonbury, said his family was devastated when Mr Quinlan was diagnosed with cancer in April 2022."By the time he was finally diagnosed he had a tumour the size of a rugby ball in his stomach," he said. Mr Quinlan underwent surgery two months after the diagnosis, but the cancer returned within three months and he died five weeks later at 59 years old. The Peak2Palace challenge comes five years after Henry and a group of friends cycled a pedalo across the Atlantic Ocean, raising almost £250,000 for the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. Henry said he was glad to be completing the challenge with his wife's step-father, who has climbed Mont Blanc twice."Damian and I are very close - I was planning this with my friends and they had to drop out for various reasons. "I was with Damian when I heard and asked him to join me over a few beers," he pair are aiming to raise £25,000 for Sarcoma UK.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Crewe mum pledges to still do 'daft things' despite spinal injury
A woman who suffered a spinal injury four years ago has said she will continue to do "daft things" as she prepares to undertake her latest challenge for charity. Trish Brookes, from Crewe, Cheshire, lost feeling from her waist down a few days after she slipped and fell in the shower, in July had an operation to stop her becoming paralysed, but was left having to use crutches or a wheelchair to get her injury, the mum-of-three has since taken on a number of challenges to raise money for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA). These include facing her fears by swimming with sharks and abseiling 100ft (30.5m) down Liverpool's Anfield Brookes is not stopping there and, on 20 September, and husband Ian, who is her carer, will be doing a 90ft (27m) abseil and a mile-long canoe trip in the Peak District. "It's all part of showing the world that we can still do so much – we can still challenge ourselves and go out there to do daft things," she told BBC Radio Stoke."Even though I've been told by my consultant there's further damage going on and the future is very uncertain… I just want to enjoy life and live it to the full."This spinal injury of mine is for life, but I'm not going to let it stop me doing things and be courageous by doing things I've never done before."Mrs Brookes said she has started feeling weakness on her left side and her doctor told her she would likely need another operation in the future. "I'm still trying to live the best that I can and do as many normal things as I can but it does take it out of you," she Brookes has raised about £3,000 so far and also helped to set up a support group for people with spinal injuries in Crewe last said: "It's just nice to be able to speak with other people who know exactly what we're going through." Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Worcestershire firm take on Severn source to sea challenge
A team from a film and media company is to travel the length of the River Severn to raise funds for source to sea challenge will see the group from Bewdley-based DRPG kayak, run and cycle the 220-mile (354 km) route from the heights of Plynlimon to the Bristol chief executive Dale Parmenter, who is taking part, said he was inspired by BBC Children in Need and hoped to raise £20,000 for four charities."Like most great ideas this one started in the pub, I wanted to do something big for our 45th [anniversary] and that seemed like a great idea," he said. "The River Severn has played a big part in my life.""One of my first films I ever made was on the Severn. I used to row as well. My family came up from France on the troves about 300 years ago and I went to school by it, so I thought 'this is fitting let's do the whole thing'."DRPG supports companies with their internal and external communications and said it had worked with the likes of Tesco, Lloyds Bank and JLR, among set to benefit from the challenge are the River Severn Trust, award-making foundation Meeting Needs, the King's Trust, and Wheels for All, which champions inclusive Parmenter said the group had been training "a few times a week", practising a few of the disciplines. "There's a bit of an age difference between us so I think there's going to be a bit of competition," he joked. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
