The 5795 Challenge is the brain-child of Glossop mum and cake designer, Helen Thornhill.
In 2014 Helen ran The London Marathon raising funds for the Winnie Mabaso Foundation. A UK based charity supporting vulnerable and orphaned children in South Africa.
This year she decided to up the pace and set herself and 2 friends (Jenny Chapman and Anne Williams) the challenge of running the Air Mile distance between Manchester and Johannesburg to raise funds once again for the Foundation, and in particular their orphanage, Ilamula House – a home for 20 abused, neglected and orphaned girls aged from 2-14, many of whom are HIV positive.
Helen says ‘Why do I do it? Because I can! Children have a right to be loved, feel safe and happy. If I can make a small difference to even one child in South Africa then all these miles will have been worth it.’
This extraordinary team are running every day to reach their target with Helen commited to covering a staggering 3000 miles personally with Jenny and Anne clocking up the additional 2795 between them.
The Winnie Mabaso Foundation is encouraging it’s followers to support these phenominal women by ‘running a mile for Winnie’ and posting ‘selfies’ on the Foundation’s social networking sites (facebook, twitter, instagram). Chinley Primary School, Dinting Primary School and Gorse Hall Primary School have all responded to the challenge and will be taking part. Broadcasters Aled Jones and Clare Balding have also shown their support by running their mile for Winnie.
The team have so far covered 2712 miles – that’s 425 hours of running!
If you are keen to get involved and would like to run your ‘mile for Winnie’ you are invited to GLOSSOP RUGBY CLUB on Saturday 20th June from 12.30pm where you can join others running their mile as well as celebrating all things South African! All ages welcome and there will be BBQs lit if you’d like to bring your own meat or picnic. BBQ packs will be available at £5 each (order beforehand) There is a full bar so we’d ask you not to bring your own alcohol and rugby will be shown on the big screen.
Alternatively, you can join in by running your mile for Winnie in your own time and share it with the Foundation.
Helen Thornhill will be joining the founder and CEO of The Winnie Mabaso Foundation, Lisa Ashton MBE on a trip to Johannesburg in December where she will be completing the final mile of the 5795 Challenge with the girls who reside at Ilamula House and supporters of the Foundation in South Africa.
Further information from: Lisa Ashton, MBE 07944 140958 or winniemabaso@hotmail.co.uk.