Disabled Jim's grand charity boost
A disabled man has raised £1000 for two charities in a wheelchair half-marathon.Jim Harrald is wheelchair-bound and a resident at the Grove Cheshire home at East Carleton, but that did not prevent him from devising a way to raise some money for orphans in Mozambique after hearing of their plight at his local church.
A disabled man has raised £1000 for two charities in a wheelchair half-marathon.
Jim Harrald is wheelchair-bound and a resident at the Grove Cheshire home at East Carleton, but that did not prevent him from devising a way to raise some money for orphans in Mozambique after hearing of their plight at his local church.
Ellie Hawke, who works at an orphanage run by Iris Ministries, shared the needs of their work at a Sunday service at Mulbarton Church.
Jim said: “I was shocked when I saw the photos of those kids in Mozambique. The kids don't have anything.”
Determined to do something to help, he organised a team of “pushers” and contacted the UEA who agreed to let him use their running track free of charge. Ten valiant friends, both from the church and staff at the Grove, took turns to push Jim in his wheelchair around the track, completing a total of 50 laps which equates to the distance of a half-marathon.
The money raised through sponsorship came to £1000 and Jim decided to split the proceeds equally between Iris ministries and the Cheshire home.
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Ellie Hawke, who, with her husband Alex, works with a group of 14-16 year olds in a children's home in Zimpeto, Mozambique, received the cheque from Jim.
“£500 will go a very long way in Mozambique and will help to provide clothing and sandals for the teenage boys we work with , as well as contributing towards Christmas treats and celebrations for the other children at the centre” she said, “We are so grateful to Jim and his team for putting their compassion and care into action in order to bless the orphaned and abandoned children of Mozambique.”
Jim is already thinking about his next project. “I'd like to go out to Mozambique and see the kids. I know some people think just because you're in a wheelchair you can't do anything but we are looking into costs accommodation and care, so if I can go I will. I want to make the next wheelchair push a full marathon!”
