I'm starting JanYOUary in style, with a HOP, SKIP & a JUMP, by challenging myself and supporting local adults and children with life-limiting conditions.

This year, fundraising for St Oswald's Hospice has turned upside down and inside out because of the pandemic. The Hospice has worked extremely hard to keep our services running for patients and their families across the North East. 

Hospice and community events have come to a standstill, which means that a lot of our regular fundraising efforts have stopped, impacting our income drastically. However our local community of individuals, family & friends group and local businesses have all come together to support us in many unique and wonderful ways throughout this time, meaning that we have still generated a great level of voluntary giving in some alternative ways. 

Our world has quickly become virtual, with us all having to embrace technology to communicate, raise awareness and generate funds. Therefore our JanYOUary campaign is about giving people the flexibility to set their own goals as part of their New Year Resolutions, whilst raising awareness and vital funds, so that St Oswald's can continue providing specialist care to people across the region.

My JanYOUary Challenge consists of 3 things:

1. HOPe that I don't make a fool of myself by taking part in a 30 minute Team Challenge with my work colleagues every Tuesday throughout January. This activity will be dictated by a member of the fundraising team and will be something weird and wacky no doubt. 

2. To SKIP for 5 minutes every day, incorporating new techniques and quirkiness to keep you entertained. I haven't skipped since I was a child and have forgotten how difficult it is, physically.

3.To JUMP on my horse and ride 5 times per week for 30 minutes. However, giving the current weather conditions I may have to accumulate the total time and ensure that I ride for a minimum of 11.5 hours for the 4 1/2weeks in Jan. Before the New Year I was only managing about 1 hour per week.

And...what I haven't shared with you is that I will be doing this all whilst depriving myself of cake and chocolate throughout the whole month, which is a monumental challenge in itself for me!

Please sponsor me to help keep me motivated, whilst supporting your local hospice. 

Thank You xxx