The Salvation Army joins Captain Tom 100 Challenge
published on 19 Apr 2021
The Salvation Army is encouraging people to take part in a new fundraising challenge named in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Captain Tom 100 will run between Friday 30 April and Monday 3 May and gives people an opportunity to raise vital funds for the work of a Salvation Army project or centre of their choice by completing a challenge based around the number 100.
Challenges could include walking 100 steps or running 100 metres, scoring 100 goals, baking 100 cakes, building 100 sandcastles, writing a 100-word poem, flipping 100 pancakes – anything at all, inside or out.
Lauren learned to ride a bike for last year's fundraiser - the 2.6 Challenge.
In April 2020, the 2.6 Challenge inspired thousands of people to think of a fundraising activity to complete based around the numbers two and six.
One of those people was Lauren, who learnt to ride a bike in lockdown in order to raise funds for our Steps to Work programme based at Strawberry Fields in Liverpool.
Lauren, who has Down’s Syndrome, aimed to raise £1,000 by cycling 2.6 miles but raised close to £4,000 for the programme which helps young adults with learning difficulties and other barriers into employment develop skills and work experience.
After last year’s challenge Lauren’s mum, Major Kathy Versfeld, explained: “Lauren was five when we put her on a bike and said ‘Lauren, it’s time to learn to ride’. Fifteen years later, riding a bike remained an unrealised ambition, mainly because of Lauren’s fear of falling.
“When we heard about the 2.6 Challenge during the first national lockdown last year we decided, ‘Right, let’s use the extra time on our hands over the next month to finish what we started all those years ago and help Lauren to overcome her fear, realise her dream of cycling solo and support the work at Strawberry Field with challenged young people. It’s a win-win scenario!’
“Lauren couldn’t be prouder of her achievement, telling everyone about her fundraising efforts, and we love going cycling as a family on the weekends. So, a lot of good has come out of a really bad chapter in our lives.”
To find out more about the Captain Tom 100 challenge and how to sign up to fundraise for Team Sally Army, click here.
