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Wishes for Kids
Posted on 14/11/2007
P. Klein
14th November 2007
Forty participants on Charnwood Borough Councils Heart Smart scheme have proved they have got big hearts " by raising literally thousands of pounds for a childrens charity.
The Heart Smart scheme helps people with cardiac problems get active and the participants took part in the Climbing New Heights 4 Peak Fitness challenge to collect £4,000 in sponsorship for Wishes 4 Kids.
The charity aims to give Leicestershire youngsters who are life-limited, terminally ill, have been abused or suffered mental, physical or emotional trauma or are diagnosed as HIV positive a special wish. However granting a wish is only part of their commitment. Their goal is to create a magical experience packed with excitement and anticipation and provide a memory to be treasured.
Thanks to the hard work of the Heart Smart regulars, five children will see their dreams come true and the money raised will help fund:
- A trip to Disneyland Paris for a youngster with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and his family
- Concert and meeting with Take That for a young lady who has suffered brain haemorrhages
- Trip to Disneyland Paris for a three-year-old with Leukaemia
- Laptop for a young lady with Cerebral Palsy
- And a X-Box console and games for a teenager with cancer
The money raised will be presented to Wishes 4 Kids at the Leisure Centreon Browns Lane in Loughborough on Friday, 16th November 2007 and was raised during Heart Smarts Climbing New Heights 4 Peak Fitness challenge earlier this year.
A route from Loughborough to Ireland, Scotland, the Lake District, Wales and back was calculated and included a climb up four mountains " Slieve Donard (the highest mountain in Northern Ireland at 849 metres), Ben Nevis (Scotland, 1,344 metres), Scafell Pike (Lake District National Park in Cumbria , 978 metres) and Snowdon (North Wales, 1,085 metres). The total distance was then covered by all Heart Smart participants, who actually walked 7,527km, cycled 256.18km, swam 320 lengths, rowed 50,000km, climbed 8,512km and sailed 100km.
Carol Dixon, Charnwood Borough Councils Cardiac Rehabilitation Officer, said: "So many people have put a lot of hard work into this and Im really chuffed weve hit our target. This was no mean feat. A lot of people without heart problems would not do this and Im over the moon.
One of the participants, Jeanne Nicholls, who was referred to the scheme by Nottingham City Hospital after suffering a heart attack and raised a total of £950, said: "It was a very demanding challenge but knowing our efforts would help Wishes 4 Kids spurred us on. I joined in May and the structure classes have given me back the confidence to improve my fitness. The support and encouragement from family and friends has been wonderful.
Cllr Peter Lewis, Charnwood Borough Councils Cabinet member for Leisure, praised the efforts of everyone connected with the Heart Smart scheme.
He said: "One simple message underlies this - obvious but true " together we make a difference. And the result " sheer joy for those children, and an incredible achievement on their behalf by people who believe lifes worth living whatever fate throws at us. Long may it be so!