29 Jun 2021 Community

‘Tomorrow will be a good day’ with the help of local supporters

To celebrate Captain Tom’s amazing achievements in 2020, thousands all over the country took on a challenge across the May bank holiday weekend to raise vital funds for a local cause. Supporters in Kirklees raised an amazing £1,977 fundraising for The Kirkwood.

Captain Sir Tom Moore rose to fame during the first lockdown in 2020 when his fundraising for NHS charities became a viral sensation. Aiming to raise £1,000 walking laps in his garden at the impressive age of 99, Tom’s challenge took the country by storm and raised a staggering total of over £32 million.

Captain Tom sadly died back in February this year, just two months before his 101st birthday, and to celebrate his legacy and spread passion throughout the country in his honour, the Captain Tom 100 campaign launched to raise funds for local charities in need.

From Friday 30th April until Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May, communities were encouraged to devise their own challenges around the number 100 and supporters across Kirklees chose to fundraise to help The Kirkwood Support Life.

Laura Harrison, of Mirfield, cycled 100 miles in the four-day bank holiday weekend on a stationary exercise bike at home and raised £160. Having already fundraised in memory of her stepdad, Mic, earlier in the year, it was the perfect way to say thank you.

Laura’s JustGiving page reads: “I lost my brilliant stepdad in March, he had been a part of my life for almost 20 years and a lovely grandad to my boys. We loved him and we miss him every day. I am attempting this challenge to say a massive thank you! Fitness isn’t my thing, cake is, but I needed a proper challenge.”

Also taking part was Liz Whitehead, from Flockton, who set herself the challenge of crocheting 100 flowers in every colour of the rainbow but amazingly doubled her target by crocheting a total of 200. These were used in the WI installation as part of this year’s Big Rainbow Knit organised by Woven in Kirklees throughout June.

Liz raised an amazing £565 and shared the following message to thank those who supported her: “200 flowers made with 880g of yarn and about 35 hours of crocheting! Many thanks for all the support through donations of yarn, lots of encouraging comments and snacks from my WI friends, and generous gifts for The Kirkwood.”

Local pianist, Elizabeth Jones, who lives in Honley, played 100 piano tunes on Monday 1st May and raised over £590! Elizabeth threw open her doors at home so all her neighbours could enjoy and she played a selection of music from Beethoven to Barnum via The Beatles.

Elaine Holroyd, of Liversedge, took part by baking 101 buns and selling them to family, friends and neighbours in return for a donation. Elaine raised an amazing £138 for The Kirkwood!

The Kirkwood Community Fundraisers, Joanna Doherty and Julia Owen also took on their own challenges for the campaign. Joanna, along with friends Amanda Boocock and Hannah Curley, along with dogs Missy and Tilly, walked 100,000 steps over the weekend and raised £310.

Julia along with Ann Fisk swam 100 lengths of the swimming pool at Total Fitness, Wakefield, and raised £189.

The Kirkwood Shop team based in Wyke, along with their customers, donated £101 to celebrate what would have been Captain Tom’s 101st birthday.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the challenge, and to everyone who donated and supported them along the way.