THE LOST DUCK RACE CHALLENGE - As a member of the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town, we are raising funds for our current key charities. Each year we select charities that we can give a particular focus to, including an international one.

My challenge is in support of the charity, “Chernobyl Children In Need”, a Wiltshire based registered charity which has been providing support to children in the Ozarichi area of Belarus since 1999, in the region affected by the devastating nuclear plant explosion at Chernobyl in 1986. The radiation effects of this explosion are long term, and this is in an already deprived rural area.

Chernobyl Children In Need – CCIN – was a key charity selected by 2019/20 club president, Bob Barrett. But due to the pandemic, our major annual fund raising event, the "Swindon's Famous Duck Race”, was lost in May 2020, and cannot happen again this May, due to the pandemic. This meant we could not make any donation to CCIN. Current president, Ray Norman, has generously added CCIN to this year’s selected key charities. 

My challenge is to commit to walking, at a brisk rate, on my treadmill, for 30 minutes, every day for the next month, until end of April, hoping to reach a target of £200 that I can donate to Chernobyl Children In Need. It’s not the most original of challenges, but I’m not into sky diving, wing walking or even Marathon running. However, it is for a extremely good cause, and it will take effort and commitment.

Many people have said how much they have enjoyed being involved in voluntary support initiatives during the pandemic. Rotary is an ideal vehicle for that. If you are interested, google Rotary, or go to the Swindon Old Town Rotary Club website to find out more about what we do. It could change your life. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.I would be extremely grateful for any donation you feel able to make. Many thanks for any support you can give. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.