Sibling duo set sights sky high with 24-hour home fundraiser for NSPCC Cymru

• North Wales siblings respond to NSPCC’s emergency fundraising appeal with 24-hour bounce-athon challenge
• Poppy and Jem hope to raise hundreds of pounds with lockdown fundraiser
• The teenagers will bounce on a trampoline in one hour rotations around the clock to help other children get the support they need

Kind-hearted siblings from North Wales have set themselves an epic home lockdown challenge to help raise vital funds for the children’s charity, NSPCC Cymru.

Poppy and Jem will take it in turns bouncing on their trampoline in the garden of their family home for one hour intervals over a 24-hour period, to raise hundreds of pounds to help the NSPCC Cymru support children when they need it most.

The teenagers, who live on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, decided to raise money for NSPCC Cymru after the charity shared how its Childline service was inundated with contacts from young people worried about the Coronavirus.

19-year-old Poppy said: “I have been listening to the radio more and more since being at home. Hearing how the calls to Childline have increased during the COVID-19 lockdown made me feel so incredibly lucky to have a home life like I do, and made me think that surely I can try and do something to help children who are in need of support.”

Her 15-year-old brother, Jem, agreed and the pair have spent the last few weeks holding training sessions in their garden in Tregarth.

Jem said: “I believe the 24-hour bounce will be very challenging mentally and physically, but I feel proud to be helping the NSPCC.

“In preparation, we have been doing hour blocks of bouncing. My main fear at the moment is how boring it might be, but by the end we hope to have raised a good sum of money to make a difference for those children less fortunate than us.”

Poppy added: “Hopefully on the day our tired legs will feel the benefit of all of our training.

“I’m actually feeling really excited to get started. I know it’s going to be tough but we have one-sided games we can play whilst one person jumps and we will have music and a snack buffet to keep us going.”

The duo has been busy making eco-friendly fundraising banners and decorations to raise awareness of the challenge, which is taking place on Saturday 2 May, and have even signed up relatives overseas to help them out.

Poppy said: “We’re going to decorate our shed and make a comfy place for our hour power naps throughout the night.

“We’ve got a relative who lives in Australia that is going to call us during her lunchtime to get us through some of the night-time bouncing!

“I just hope that we manage to raise enough to help in some way.”

The charity launched an emergency fundraising appeal earlier this month to raise crucial funds to support children, young people and their families across Wales during this challenging time.

Community Fundraising Manager for North Wales, Jess Finnegan said: “We are amazed by Poppy and Jem’s challenge and willingness to help. It’s a great example of how we can set fundraising challenges at home, and still be part of a team – and we’re delighted they’ve chosen #TeamNSPCC.

“Bouncing on a trampoline sounds like a lot of fun, but bouncing throughout the night hour after hour will definitely be testing.”

The NSPCC is adapting the way it works so that it can support children at a time when schools are closed, families are struggling to adapt to lockdown, and vulnerable children are at risk.

Jess added: “We rely on public support for 90% of our income, and we simply wouldn’t be able to support the children and families we do without supporters like Poppy and Jem.

“The money raised will help fund NSPCC services, which support children and their families in Wales, through our direct services, and Childline which has been delivering counselling sessions to worried children during this crisis.”

Childline volunteers based in Prestatyn and Cardiff, two of twelve Childline bases across the UK, have been busy, delivering counselling sessions to young people, some who are feeling anxious, unsafe, or having suicidal thoughts and feelings.

The NSPCC is urging the public to visit its website and donate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline, so the charity can continue to answer calls and be here for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.  

To find out more about Poppy and Jem’s challenge visit their JustGiving page, or to sign up for a 2.6 Challenge in aid of the NSPCC visit the NSPCC website.

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk

Children can contact Childline for free on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk 365 days a year, and speak to a counsellor about a worry or concern they may have.