Please find below, details from Holding On Letting Go, requesting help from individuals and businesses to join them in the #2.6Challenge - a fundraising idea from the organisers of the London Marathon to help small charities who are unable to fundraise at the moment.
HOLG is a charity that supports bereaved children and their families across Kent when they experience death. Often, the adults are unable to support the children as they want to because their own grief is so hard to cope with.
HOLG steps in to help them find a way to ensure the children are also able to cope, supporting them in the early days and also for many families, in the years to come through the various stages of bereavement too.
At the moment, due to coronavirus, referrals have increased with families facing not only sudden deaths, but also being unable to say goodbye as they wished and then facing a virtual funeral.
Help to promote the idea in general news and business press too would be very much appreciated.
HOLG's CEO Caroline Ford and Fundraising Officer Caroline Gaskin are available for interview - just let me know who you need and when.
Best wishes,
Sarah Hawes | IZZY PR
07748 631100
Can you help us with The 2.6 Challenge?
The 40th London Marathon has been cancelled, along with thousands of fundraising events, leaving many charities worried about their income and future.
One of these is Holding On Letting Go which supports bereaved children and their families across Kent to hold onto precious memories and let go of the painful ones.
Coronavirus has seen a rise in referrals from families who have experienced a recent death and so fundraising is vital to make sure all families receive the help they can - currently being delivered via phone and video calls.
The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday 26 April, is the world's biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.
As it cannot take place as planned, its organisers have created a ‘lockdown-friendly event' called The Two Point Six Challenge (#TwoPointSixChallenge) which is easy for anyone to join in and make a difference, especially for smaller local charities like ours.
The idea is that every small ‘event' can add up to something worthwhile - and for us, it really does all add up.
HOLG, based in Rochester, are still able to deliver our services, albeit in different ways, but we have to keep trying to ensure some of our fundraising income comes in, so are looking for individuals and businesses to join in with a 2.6 or 26 themed event.
Get your friends ‘together', your family, colleagues or neighbours and ask them to join in with a challenge with you or sponsor you for yours.
You might choose to run 2.6miles, do 260 jumps or jog for 26 minutes - whatever you're doing it will be appreciated by HOLG and they'd like you to tag them on our social media so they can see what you're doing.
Fundraising Officer Caroline Gaskin said: "It's such a fantastic idea in response to the situation and we are looking forward to seeing some very imaginative and creative ideas!
"It's all about what you can do rather than what you can't, staying safe, at home and following the Covid guidelines.
"Have fun and thank you to everyone who is already involved and those who join us."
The challenges will take place from Sunday 26th April for a week. You can enjoy your challenge in one day, different days or across the week - it's up to you!
Caroline will be joining with her dance school United Dance Studios to do 26 dances in 26 minutes on Sunday.
Fundraising pages should be set up with either JustGiving or Virgin Money Giving - because donations will also be made to charities from a collective pot of money from the funds raised through the 2.6 Challenge.
For more information on The 2.6 Challenge, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information about Holding On Letting Go, please contact Sarah Hawes at Izzy PR:sarah@izzypr.co.uk/ 07748 631100
Photos sent with this media release should only be used with this information. For further and future use, please contact Sarah Hawes for permission. Caroline Gaskin is available for media interview, which can be arranged easily via Sarah Hawes - details above.
HOLG'S history
HOLG was founded in 1998 by a group of healthcare professionals who saw a gap in bereavement support for children. It's based in Rochester but helps children across Kent.
They started their own free service to make sure that children got the help they needed and began running weekend sessions - volunteering their time for the families who came. Their focus then, as it is today, was to give bereaved children a supportive and safe place to talk about their grief and find a way forward by holding onto precious memories and letting go of the sad ones.
Now, the two-day non-residential weekends are held 11 times a year and can support up to 25 children each time, plus a parent/carer group runs alongside to help those around the child with their grief too, because sometimes they are unable to help their children whilst they are bereaved.
Children can explore their feelings, talk about their loved one, meet other children, enjoy music and craft workshops and also create a memory box full of special things that remind them of their loved one.
