Previous runners who took part in the London Marathon in 2019 for Emmaus UK
Local businesses are swapping their offices for a popular theme park after teaming up with a North Staffordshire charity to support local children who do not have a bed of their own.
Emmaus North Staffs – who work to end furniture poverty in North Staffordshire – launched their ‘Beds for Kids’ campaign in 2022, after seeing an increasing demand from families struggling to afford basic furniture for the home.
This year, and to help to raise funds for the campaign in the run up to Christmas, a team of eight will be pulling on their running shoes on 11 November, and taking part in the Run Alton Towers 10k race.
So far Helen Bancroft-Morris Director of HBM Telemarketing, Matthew Tolley, Director of Hayo Energy, Nick Pilgrim, owner of video production company CineRobota, and Sonya Farrall of PR & Media firm BabaBaboon, will be joining Executive Lead of Emmaus North Staffs, John Webbe, Trustee of Emmaus North Staffs and Managing Director of CRC Evans, Paul McShane, along with friends of the charity Emily Clewlow and Jason Farrall for the race.
“It’s great that we are being supported in the Alton Towers run by local businesses and we really appreciate their commitment,” says John Webbe.
“We launched ‘Beds for Kids’ last year in an urgent response to enquiries for children’s beds and we have continued to support as many families as we can.
“No child should be sleeping on the floor and lack of sleep can seriously affect someone’s mental health, and even their education. Hopefully following support from the 10K run we will be able to support more local children.”
A target of £5,000 has been set by the charity for the Alton Towers run – which could see more than 30 brand new beds and full bedding delivered to local children.
John adds: “We have set ourselves a target as we want to provide as many beds as we can in the run up to Christmas.
“For £175 we can provide a local child with their own brand new bed. This includes a bed base, a mattress, plus all bedding, which we also deliver, and it really makes such a difference.
“All of the team are training well and if we can meet our target, which can be found on our Just Giving Page, then that would be amazing.”
As well as the Beds for Kids campaign, Emmaus North Staffs support more than 800 local households each year. The charity has a large store in the Potteries Centre, in Hanley as well as a Furniture and Home Charity Emporium, which is located in Etruria.
To support the runners in the Alton Towers 10k Race on Saturday 11 November, and to learn more about the Beds for Kids campaign, please follow this Just Giving link – https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bedsforkids.
