On one of the coldest nights of the year so far, a team of local business people slept the night in a warehouse to raise money for the Community Foundation Wakefield District’s fuel poverty appeal, Challenge 25. Challenge 25 aims to raise money to provide emergency winter fuel grants to individuals and families in the Wakefield district struggling to pay their energy bills.
The idea to brave the cold came about when the group first met to discuss ways in which they could fundraise that helped them understand what it feels like to not be able to warm your house at a switch of a button.
Claire Sutherley, Community Foundation Trustee and team member explains: “Last Friday night myself, Jodie Lawton, Andy Plues, Mandy Plues, Samantha Stones, Lorna Blackett and Craig Shepherd slept the night in a plastering warehouse with only sleeping bags to keep us warm and not a heater in sight!
Although team spirits were high due to the amazing support we received from our donors, overall, it was a humbling experience, as it made us appreciate the suffering that so many individuals and families go through as they simply cannot afford to put the heating on.”
Craig Shepherd, Community Foundation CEO and also a team member said: “The idea to launch Challenge 25 came about because the average emergency winter fuel grant is £25, which provides an immediate benefit to individuals and families in crisis during winter. Last year, due to the generosity of the public and business community we were able to help over 800 families keep warm and this year we are aiming for over 1,000.”
Two other members of the team took on their own individual challenges; Jenna Fan sang a solo every day on Facebook for 25 days and Antony from Kraft Koffee, has obtained a Tyson Fury boxing glove which is being raffled over the next few days.
Claire, added: “We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received so far, and hope to bring our overall total to over £3,000 through raffling Tyson’s glove. To buy a raffle ticket, please visit https://bit.ly/3rjQZX1 No one should have to choose between feeding their family and heating their homes. Thank you.”
To find out more here about Challenge 25 and how to enter a team.