Will crosses fundraising start line for Unicef

At the Clipper Race we love a challenge, especially when it is for a good cause. Following our partnership with Unicef during the Clipper 2015-16 Race, which to date has raised more than £330,000, we are continuing to work together to make a safer world for children. As the 2017-18 race crew prepare to cross the world’s oceans, they are showing their support and fundraising ahead of the eleventh edition of the race next year.

Combining his passion for running and his nautical adventure ahead, Leg 1 crew member Will Stokely, a 45 year-old Tech Development Manager from Portsmouth, UK recently challenged himself to complete the Great South Run in aid of the Official Race Charity. However whilst his footwear was fitting for the 10 mile course, Will decided to make things a lot more difficult for himself by running in full Henri Lloyd foul weather gear. Despite the extra weight and bulk he crossed the finish line in 1 hour 33 minutes and 27 seconds.

“I live about 100 yards from the water station at mile seven and have taken part in the Great South Run a few times over the last few years. Having committed to the test which will be Leg 1 in the next race, I thought I could combine both challenges to raise money for Unicef as it is such a worthy cause,” Will says.

“As I have done the run several times before I didn’t want to ask people to support me to do something I would normally do anyway – so I needed to make it a bit different. Even though I am only doing one leg of the Clipper Race I have big expectations about what it will do for me as a person so it just felt right to incorporate it and run in foul weather gear.

“Miles five and six were difficult with the sun in my face and no shade, I started to cook up quite nicely! Passing mile seven, where I run past my family and neighbours is always good fun. The last couple of miles, whilst being the hardest of the race, were great as it felt more of an accomplishment this year. My time last year in normal running kit was 1 hour 23 minutes so I was really pleased to only be a minute per mile slower,” he adds.

Will has raised more than £700 for Unicef and all contributions will go towards achieving the Clipper 2017-18 Race’s overall Unicef fundraising target of £400,000 – which by illustration could buy all of the following life changing services and items:

Enough midwifery kits to help deliver 100 babies
28,000 mosquito nets to help protect families from malaria-carrying mosquitoes
200,000 Polio vaccines
50,000 Measles vaccines
5,000 blankets to keep babies warm in hospitals and refugee camps
300 bikes to get children to school
890 emergency water kits
100 schools in a box to provide emergency schooling for 40 children in disasters
64 water pumps to provide clean safe water to entire villages
20 temporary schools or health centres for survivors of natural disasters
1,000 emergency nutrition packs

Unicef Public Fundraising Executive, Rebecca Copper says:“A huge thank you to Will from all of us at Unicef UK, for not only taking on the challenge of running 10 miles, but running in full foul weather gear too! A truly creative and effective fundraiser, and a fantastic total to show for it, we cannot thank you enough!”

To find out more about Unicef’s vital work visit: www.unicef.org.uk/

Want to show your support? To donate, click here.