The fund-raising achievements of Albie Rice

One of our young Parishioners

Albie is nine years old and for the last four years has been spending April raising money for causes that are close to his heart.

He first started at age six raising money for Cancer Research UK in memory of his Great Nana who had sadly lost her fight the year before, and he completed over 280,000 steps in 30 days.

At age seven, he raised money for our local care home, Allington House, by walking over 500,000 steps and raising over £505 for the residents. Albie got to know the staff and some of the residents and was so excited he was able to see what everyone's generous donations went towards.

At age eight, he set himself his biggest walking challenge yet. He managed to walk over 650,000 steps, which is almost 220 miles. His chosen cause was Billingham Food Bank, which he visited and got to experience everything that goes into running the food bank and even packed up food parcels. He also used the donations to shop for all the food and toiletries himself and was very happy he could see where all the donations went.

This year he decided to set himself an even bigger challenge! So, with a little practice, he set himself the task of running 100km in April to raise money to buy gifts for the children's ward at the University Hospital of North Tees. His aim was to raise as much as he could to buy toys and activities for the young patients staying on the ward. He wanted to make their hospital stay a little brighter.

This was Albie's biggest challenge yet, but he never let it daunt him and never complained. He got on and got the job done.

He ran most days doing 5km at a time, rain or shine. He had an amazing support system of friends and family joining him on his runs.

Albie ended his challenge by running to the hospital, where he was greeted by the children's ward manager, nurses, patients from the ward and his family cheering him home across the finish line.

Albie smashed his target of 100km and ran 127km, equivalent to three full marathons! He raised just over £1,200 and we can genuinely say he had the time of his life.

"The parish adds: "Even a child makes himself known by his acts." (Proverbs 20:11)