Published on: Thursday 11 Mar 2021 at 11:29
Hospice Hero, Hector, ran daily for 60 days for St Clare!
A 9 year old boy from Ongar, Hector Bodiam, has raised more than £3,500 after running for more than 60 days during Lockdown 3.0 in aid of St Clare Hospice, who cared for his Grandad Bobby.
Hector began his challenge on 6th January 2021 when his primary school was shut due to the COVID pandemic and his family wanted to find a way to keep physically active during the winter lockdown. Hector ran 1km every day on the family’s running machine for more than 60 days until Sunday 7th March, and raised over £3,500 for the hospice charity.
Hector’s grandfather, Bob Bowers, was cared for on the Hospice charity’s Inpatient Unit for two weeks before his death from oesophageal cancer on 21st April 2017, when Hector was just 6 years old.
Hector’s fundraising target was set at £100 – an amount which he smashed in just three days, reaching over £1,000. His fundraising page reached £3,530 which is enough to fund the charity’s Bereavement Helpline for more than two weeks.
Hector Bodiam, said: “I can’t believe I managed to run every day for more than 60 days – and I got faster and fitter every time. It’s been a really good thing to do during Lockdown, and I loved checking my online fundraising page and see the money coming in. I was so chuffed when it went over £3,500! Now that I am back in school I have decided to end the challenge, but I’m really proud of everything I have achieved.”
Hector’s mother, Claire Bodiam, said: “We are just so proud of Hector for committing to this challenge for such a long time. When he started at the beginning of January, we didn’t know how long the lockdown would last – but he managed to keep it going solidly for more than 60 days straight. Even on the days when he didn’t fancy running, he always managed to carry on. Hec has been so motivated throughout the challenge by the thought of raising money for St Clare – and it was such a good way to keep him focussed on something positive throughout the winter lockdown.”
“I am just so proud of Hector, and so thankful to everyone that has sponsored him, for helping to raise such an amazing amount for the Hospice. St Clare’s is such an incredible place and a great local cause who need our support through the pandemic more than ever.”
“We hope Hector’s Lockdown Kilometre Challenge inspires other people to take on fundraising challenges too. We just wanted to raise awareness of how amazing St Clare’s is and to help raise funds to support them through the pandemic which has had such a negative impact on their ability to fundraise.”
Say well done and donate
Hector ran 1km every day for the whole of Lockdown 3.0 (from 6th January – 7th March) and is fundraising for St Clare Hospice. You can still donate to his fundraiser here.