A KIND-hearted boy is busy training up his dad, and encouraging others to join them, for the St Helena Hospice’s latest fundraiser.
Alistair Doyle, who is just six-years-old, is putting dad Scott through his paces. The pair aim to join about 500 others at the charity’s Frosty 5k at the University of Essex later this month.
The youngster has already raised £500, smashing his initial fundraising target of £200.
Alistair, who lives in Colchester, said: “I am six-years-old and I want to help raise money for St Helena Hospice because they help so many people.
“I am training up daddy to take part and we are going to run for 5km, which is just over three miles, without stopping!”
The St John’s Church of England School pupil added: “Daddy said if we raise more than £200 he will run in a Celtic top, and he loves Rangers so that will be very funny.”
The Frosty 5k is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Participants can walk, run, hop or skip around the course, which is two laps of a 2.5km route.
Fundraisers will set off from a snowy start line before going through four winter themed zones - fire, ice, fog and snow.
Each zone will bring a different challenge, such as inflatable waving snowmen, safe flames, icy smoke and an inflatable igloo which runners must navigate through.
Lisa Chenery, who is St Helena Hospice’s events fundraiser, said: “We are really ex-ice-ted for our brrr-and new Frosty 5k which is only a few weeks away now.
“We already have 500 people signed up and are hoping more will register over the next couple of weeks.
“Whatever the weather, sunny, rainy, or a bit frosty, we know everyone taking part will have a blast.
“We are so grateful to Alistair and his family for raising so much money to help our patients and families.
“By taking part and raising as much sponsorship as you can, you will be helping people face incurable illness and bereavement.”
The hospice helps people across north Essex who have life-limiting illness through its in-patient and outreach facilities.
The Frosty 5k takes place at the University of Essex’s Wivenhoe campus on Saturday, February 29.
Registration opens at 9.30am for a 11am start.
To sign up, visit sthelena.org.uk/frosty.
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