Suffolk Libraries is saying a big thank you to everyone taking on individual fundraising challenges for the charity this summer.
Board member Belle Bradley and her partner Jacob Bathgate recently raised £830 doing a parachute jump at Ellough Airfield and CEO Bruce Leeke and Head of Finance and Infrastructure Mandy Wilkinson raised £1,164 completing the Orwell Challenge. Belle said:
"Every time I've felt scared about something, Suffolk Libraries have made me feel safe. This time, I was purposely making myself absolutely petrified in order to give back! My knees were mega wobbly and I was sure I wouldn't keep my breakfast down but as soon as we were freefalling, it was the best feeling in the world. Knowing we raised over £800 is so rewarding and I am so thankful to everyone who supported."
This Sunday (11 August) weekend a local library user from Felixstowe, Tina Boniface is undertaking a daunting sponsored cycling challenge. She is aiming to cycle from Felixstowe Library to Leiston Library then on to Lowestoft Library and back. A total of over 100miles round trip in one day! Tina attends the Open Space group, a safe and welcoming wellbeing group open to anyone who wants to drop in for a chat. She says:
“Felixstowe Library has alleviated certain issues I face daily and for this I am eternally grateful. I only recently found out that Suffolk Libraries is a non-profit organisation, and my reason to do the charity ride is purely to 'Give Back' to Suffolk Libraries.”
You can sponsor Tina online via her JustGiving page.
11 people are also taking on the Ipswich Half Marathon in September to raise funds for Suffolk Libraries. They include three Suffolk Libraries staff - Sarah Sparkes, Library and Information Advisor at Beccles Library; Janine Woolston, Community Outreach Manager and Ella Henke, Marketing and Outreach Assistant.
Janine Woolston said:
“I am dedicating my run to the memory of my Nana who died in March. Reading is a passion we shared and whenever we held fundraising events in the library, she'd always give generous donations and supported anything we did. She marvelled at the service being free and would regularly insist that I took some cash to put in the donation pot at Hadleigh Library when I worked there. I know if she was here now, she'd be first in adding a generous donation to my page.”
You can sponsor the three Suffolk Libraries runners via the JustGiving links below:
Another runner, Susan Glazer, said:
“I love libraries and want to support them to continue to offer the great community services they do at present. I am also a runner and this opportunity to run to raise money brings two of my interests together and is something I feel I could do for our libraries.”
Board member Bradley Allsopp is also undertaking a sponsored walk on 8 September covering all the libraries in Ipswich and walking a total of 19 miles. You can sponsor him via his JustGiving page.
Alex Downing, Suffolk Libraries Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, said:
“We recently celebrated 12 years as an independent charitable organisation. In these challenging times, Suffolk Libraries needs to raise additional funds so it can help more people across Suffolk by reducing isolation, improving wellbeing, and delivering vital services to communities. Our huge thanks go to everyone that is raising funds and we are truly grateful.”
All funds raised go towards supporting Suffolk Libraries and the important work we do to nurture children’s literacy, tackle isolation and promote wellbeing for communities across Suffolk.
