Whiteley residents raised more than double their target for charities to support a family in a series of events.
The finish line at Ramble for Reuben
Friends of Mike and Haanagh Smith raised around £7,000 to provide physiotherapy for twin boys Reuben and Zachary who both have cerebral palsy.
The three-year-old twins were born prematurely at 29 weeks and have severe disabilities. Reuben was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and Zachary is severely deaf, has had meningitis twice and has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Bouts of rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the 50 women who walked across fields and mud from Winchester to Whiteley in the Ramble for Reuben.
They doubled the £3,000 goal, meaning the funds can provide two years of physiotherapy for Reuben following a recent procedure and still have some left over funds to save for physiotherapy and language therapy for Zachary.
Mike, 40, of Saffron Way, said: “The walk went really well. I think Haanagh was the only one who didn’t have blisters.
“It was amazing. They had three heavy showers and all got soaked. I’m so proud of them all.
“I think they all had a sense of achievement for raising the money and for doing the walk for themselves. I think they were all a bit emotional by the end.”
David Jenkins abseils down the Spinnaker Tower
Fellow fundraisers David Jenkins and Matthew Mullins took the plunge abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth for The Rainbow Centre in Fareham – a children’s charity which Reuben attends.
“It was brilliant,” said David. The morning was good weather, a bit breezy, but mine was ok. I think Matthew got a bit wet in the afternoon.
“I had a very good descent. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I came down pretty quickly – in just over one and a quarter minutes, which is extremely fast but it felt like a natural speed. Last time I did it I took more than two minutes.
“The thought of what I was doing it for made me more determined. Unfortunately Reuben and Haanagh couldn’t make it because Reuben was ill during the weekend.”
Talking of all the fundraising efforts of their friends, family and other people, Mike added: “It’s awesome. It’s overwhelming the amount that they’ve raised. I can’t thank them all enough really.”
Abseil down the Spinnaker Tower – see it through David Jenkins’ eyes
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