A five-year-old fundraiser, who is the youngest person to complete the 3 Peaks Challenge, is among the finalists of this year’s JustGiving Awards for those raising money on the platform for good causes.
Seren Price from South Wales raised more £7,300 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity last year after completing the challenge, which involves climbing the UK’s three highest peaks, Snowdon in Wales, Ben Nevis in Scotland, and Scafell Pike in England in 48 hours in December.
She took part with her father, who is a former fire fighter and wanted to raise money for the charity as it had supported her care when she was younger.
During the Ben Nevis stage Seren and her father were involved in helping another walker who was suffering from exhaustion down this mountain.
“Seren played a crucial part in this rescue by shining the torch (as it was night drew in with the slow process of supporting this lady down the mountain),” said her father.
“If this was not enough Seren gave the lady her last Lucozade to give the lady some energy.”
Seren is among three finalists in the under-13 fundraiser of the year category in this year’s JustGiving Awards.
Harry Smith, aged 12 from Hertfordshire, is another finalist in this category. He raised more than £20,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity in memory of his sister who died last year from a brain tumour. For his fundraising feat he swam a mile, climbed Scafell Pike, and cycled home from Addenbrookes Hospital, a journey his sister was unable to make.
Alba Stogden, aged nine, is another young finalist, after walking the entire coastline of England to raise £18,500 for mental health charities.
Other categories include Endurance Fundraiser of the Year. Among finalists in this category is 54-year-old Gary McKee, who ran a marathon every single day last year, often before work, to raise more than £1m for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Finalists in the teen fundraiser of the year, for 13–19-year-olds, include 13-year-old Shay O-Grady, who has taken on five triathlons over the last five years to raise £46,000 for children’s hospice Bluebell Wood.
Celebrity fundraisers
Other categories include community hero, creative fundraiser, outstanding commitment and celebrity fundraiser of the year, with Bill Bailey among finalists, after he walked 100 miles in honour of his friend and fellow comedian Sean Lock, who lost his battle with cancer in 2021.
In case you missed it, Bill Bailey’s heartfelt words on Sean Lock can be heard here: https://t.co/Bp3OcUB68w https://t.co/dGdHJxt1e8 pic.twitter.com/J08AdtgFyD
— Sean Lock Fans (@SeanLockLegacy) October 15, 2021
In addition, homelessness charity ShowerBox, Oasis Children’s Centre in Surrey and Doddie Wier’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation are the finalists in the charity of the year category.
A special recognition award is being handed to Josh Patterson, who completed his challenge of running 76 marathons in 76 cities on consecutive days to raise more than £320,000 for Samaritans.
The finalists were selected from 13,000 nominations by a panel of judges including DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams, actress Angela Griffin, fundraiser Caroline Jones and Just Giving general manager Pascale Harvie.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at London’s Roundhouse on 25 September.
“Our fundraisers and crowdfunders are amazing and whilst they don’t do what they do for praise and recognition, every single person and charity deserve it,” said Harvie.
Recent Stories