Squad steps up to raise cash for mayor’s causes
MEMBERS of Widnes Vikings Development Squad have raised more than £200 for the mayor’s charities after agreeing to take part in the mayor’s steps challenge.
The mayor of Halton, Cllr John Bradshaw attended the Widnes Vikings Development Squad training session to meet children, who had taken part in the steps challenge to raise funds for the two nominated charities and received cash raised from their own pocket money.
Widnes Vikings Development Squad is made up of Year 6 and Year 7 schoolboys from across Halton who take part in rugby league coaching as a first step on the pathway with Widnes Vikings.
The president of the Development Squad, Roger Harrison MBE, said: “We were delighted that the boys and staff of the Widnes Vikings Schoolboys Development Project were able to support the mayor’s steps challenge.
“The development boys and their parents acknowledge that being involved in our unique project places them in a very privileged position.
“Therefore it is important that they realise that where possible they should use their position to ‘put something back’ into their local community.
“The mayor’s steps challenge was an ideal vehicle for this. The boys, staff and parents were thrilled and impressed that the mayor of Halton, Cllr John Bradshaw and mayoress, Cllr Marjorie Bradshaw, were able to find time in their busy schedule to accept the cheque from the boys in person and present the boys with a certificate marking their involvement – a touching memento.”
Cllr Bradshaw is looking for 34 participants to step out and pledge to complete 10,000 steps daily for 30 consecutive days while contributing to fundraising for the mayor’s two nominated charities; Widnes & Runcorn Cancer Support and Widnes Fellowship Centre.
If the steps challenge’ is able to find 34 participants being sponsored £1 per day minimum (£30 total) it will raise over a £1,000 for the two Mayor’s charities.
But perhaps more importantly it will encourage people of Halton to become more physically active, giving health and wellbeing benefits to individuals and groups.
Cllr Bradshaw said: “This is an ideal opportunity for people to get more active and help to contribute to our fundraising efforts at the same time.
“The initial response has ● been good and we’d like to encourage more to get involved, you can sign up as an individual, as part of a group or work placed team, a school or a sports group.
He added: “We’ve already seen Widnes Vikings Development Squad and Windmill Hill Primary school sign up, so it’s fantastic to see youngsters supporting the challenge and starting to get their steps in.”
As well as members of the mayor’s committee, individuals, groups, teams and schools are needed to take part.
Anyone interested can contact chris.featherstone@ halton.gov.uk