Community / Hams heroes ‘overwhelmed’ by fundraising total after conquering challenge
TWO CHARITY fundraisers have been left “absolutely bowled over” by the phenomenal response to their remarkable Hams o’ Roe challenge last weekend.
Lou Jackson and Laurence Hunter have raised almost £4,500 for Ability Shetland after completing the 10km circuit in their active wheelchairs on Saturday.
The vital funds could help the charity buy two essential active wheelchairs for the Shetland Ravens wheelchair basketball team, helping them to finally play 5v5 games.
It took the pair seven hours to complete the gruelling challenge, which saw them battle midges, “bumshuffle” up gravel hills and pass “gobsmacked” tourists on their way to the finish line.
Speaking to Shetland News in the aftermath, Jackson said it had been an “amazing day” – with the two raising more than four times their fundraising target of £1,000 so far.
“We’ve been absolutely bowled over with everything,” she said.
“We are totally overwhelmed with the amount of people who’ve donated.
“It’s phenomenal. We were never expecting that sort of amount.
“I’m just in disbelief about what’s happened. I went into Tesco and people were saying ‘well done’, and you’re thinking ‘I don’t even know you!’”
To make it around the 10km Hams o’ Roe circuit, both Jackson and Hunter had to do it the hard way.
Jackson was paralysed in her leg after having a back operation, while Hunter had a spinal stroke, and they have credited Ability Shetland – which helped them set up the Shetland Ravens team – with getting them back outdoors again.
The Hams circuit is a notoriously tricky one for walkers, featuring steep inclines and uneven paths.
But Jackson said they were out to prove that Shetland’s outdoors can be accessible to everybody.
“Our first challenge was a hill after the car park which had very loose gravel,” she said.
“We couldn’t really get anywhere, so we had to go up on our bums.
“I was thinking, ‘is this going to be like this the rest of the way?’
“Then we got to a hill that I called Everest in the middle, that was quite horrific to get down.”
After a two-and-a-half hour trek, the group – including friends, family and Ability Shetland’s “social media queen” Megan Keppie – arrived at the Hams for an energy-replenishing picnic.
It was much needed for the return leg, which tested Jackson and Hunter to their limits again.
“On the way back we had to go up on our bums again, and there were a group of walkers going past,” Jackson laughed.
“I think they were a bit gobsmacked about what we were doing. It was a bumshuffle and a half up the longest hill.”
Though they were slogging their way up the hill, Jackson said her canine companion opted to take the easy route up.
“My dog decided that if we were shuffling up the hill, he would jump in the chair and get pushed up instead,” she added.
It may not sound like it to some, but Jackson said it had been an “absolutely fantastic” day.
With Ability Shetland regularly updating followers on their progress, Jackson said the backing they received from across Shetland – and further afield – inspired them.
“The amount of support and messages we got were amazing,” she said.
“We just didn’t realise how many folk we’d have behind us. I think that’s what touched us most really, it totally touched our hearts.”
And their Hams heroics have only served to encourage them to get out there and do it again – with Uyea next in their sights for next year.
“We don’t have to be able to walk,” she said.
“There’s no such word as ‘can’t’, we will get out there. If we want to get out there, we will.”
The fundraiser was launched to help repay Ability Shetland for the costs of hiring courts and more in support of the Shetland Ravens wheelchair basketball team.
The team is open to all – not just wheelchair users – and Jackson is keen for more people to sign up.
Training is open to everyone over the age of 16, and is held between 6pm-8pm at the Clickimin every second Friday – next set for Friday 5 September.
She hopes the money raised so far, almost £4,500, can go towards buying two more active wheelchairs to take their total to 10.
“We’re so grateful for everything they’ve [Ability Shetland] done, so if this can help them that’s fantastic,” Jackson added.
She gave a “massive thank you” to Ability Shetland sports development support worker Keppie for her support on the day, and to their family and friends, Charles Gear for their training and to “everybody that’s donated so far”.
Keppie said that what Lou and Laurence had achieved was “incredible”.
“Their grit and determination is so inspirational,” she said.
“We weren’t allowed to help other than to make sure they didn’t fall over in their chairs – any hills they couldn’t roll themselves up, they got out of their chairs and bum shuffled themselves over the gravel to reach the top, with smiles on their faces and jokes a plenty!
“They are already discussing what their next challenge will be.”
You can still donate to the fundraiser here.
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