Siân Wade, a charity leader from Lincoln, successfully climbed the four tallest peaks across the four nations of the UK in 44 hours to raise vital funds. She completed the gruelling challenge alongside the senior leadership team of Safe Families to support their work and Home for Good. The team finished their trek on Thursday, July 2, in Northern Ireland after raising more than £20,000 to help vulnerable children and isolated parents.
Personal Triumph Amidst Challenges
Siân, who had never climbed a mountain before, managed to raise more than £2,600 of that total herself. The challenge holds deep personal meaning for the local leader as she celebrated her 46th birthday during the climb. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of her cancer diagnosis, making the feat a personal triumph.
To prepare for the steep climbs while living in one of the flattest counties in the UK, she trained on a small local hill, walking up and down it five times every morning. She lost three stone over eight months, while building her stamina.
Critical Funding Gap
The fundraising drive comes at a critical time after Lincolnshire County Council cut its annual contract with Safe Families. The decision ended around £135,000 of yearly funding for the charity, which has operated in the county for 11 years. During the past decade, the charity has trained more than 300 volunteers across Lincolnshire to support hundreds of overwhelmed families.
Proven Impact
Their data shows that nine out of 10 families they supported either stabilised or saw their need for care decrease. Local churches and organisations are now discussing how to continue the work to prevent an increase in the number of children entering the care system. The charity now plans to partner directly with local schools to identify and support families in need.
