£11,900 Raised For Kids With Aids At Putney Spinathon

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11 teams & 24 hours of spinning raised much needed funds for Starfish Greathearts

On Friday 24th February Starfish Greathearts Foundation hosted a 24 hour Spinathon event at Pedal Studio in Putney.

11 teams each of around 10 people took part in this epic challenge and kept going round the clock. Qualified instructors led hour long classes back to back, with a variety of driving rhythms to encourage participants throughout. With lots of delicious food and drink on hand it was a great event to be part of.

The event was in aid of Starfish Greathearts Foundation. For ten years Starfish has been working to change the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in southern Africa affected by HIV/AIDS. Starfish supports projects within local communities, providing funding and training to extend them so that more children can be reached more quickly.

With other 120 people taking part, uploading photos on facebook and tweeting throughout the night, an incredible £12,000 was raised. Teams consisted of groups of friends or colleagues from a variety of organizations, including Ernst and Young, Investec and Sable, and included both serious and novice spinners.

The money raised will make a huge difference to the children Starfish supports. For example £50 can send a child back to school by providing them with the correct uniform, school shoes, books and stationary. Education is one of the first vital steps in breaking the cycle of poverty. £100 can enable a careworker to visit orphans and vulnerable children in their homes, providing psychosocial, emotional and practical support for two months. £500 can provide equipment for five crèches each supporting at least fifty children – Starfish funds crèches so that in child headed households older children can go to school knowing their younger siblings are safe and cared for.

September from Ikageng, community based organization and Starfish partner said:
“You love, support and care cooked me into what I am today, your parental shouting which showed me the way, your never ending smile which made it easy to be someone to talk to are all appreciated.”

Lots of delicious food was very kindly donated by Nando’s and Sainsbury’s in Putney. Donations in kind were also generously given by Abel & Cole, Lucozade, Harry’s Nuts and Tavern Snacks. Starfish would like to thank all their food and drink sponsors as well as all the companies that kindly donated prizes, without whom the event would not have been the great success that is was. A big thank you also to Andrew Clayton, owner of Pedal Studio and all the instructors from the Studio for making the event happen.

If you fancy getting involved in a future Starfish event, whether it’s running a 10K, cycling to Brighton or trekking up Kilimanjaro, contact Hester Enthoven on hester.enthoven@starfishcharity.org

 

 

March 6, 2012