A pair of young brothers are challenging themselves to complete daily runs over 10 days to raise money for The Archie Foundation, after experiencing first-hand the difference the charity makes.
David and Daniel Uzowulu wanted to give back to Archie, which supports babies, children and families during a hospital stay or bereavement.
When David (16) underwent surgery to remove fatty swelling last year, his mum, Cynthia Uzowulu stayed in Archie’s hospital accommodation at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH).
Cynthia said: “When David was in hospital following his surgery, the Archie Family Centre provided me with a place to stay, meaning I didn’t have to travel back and forth to RACH. My husband stayed at home with our other two children, and I could focus solely on David and his recovery.
“This was a big stress reliever for our family and meant I didn’t have to leave David on his own. It was comforting for both of us to know I was just down the hall from him if he needed me.”
The Archie Family Centre is designed to house parents of children receiving treatment at RACH, as the hospital covers a large geographical area across the North of Scotland, including Orkney and Shetland.
The accommodation has 19 en-suite rooms available and is fully funded by voluntary donations to The Archie Foundation. In February, a total of 311 nights were provided for parents in the North-east.
As well as providing parents and siblings with a place to sleep, the accommodation also has a communal kitchen where meals can be prepared and a lounge for resting.
After seeing the long-stay facilities, David’s younger brother Daniel (11) asked, “Where did this all come from?”.
From there, Daniel, a student at the International School Aberdeen, learnt about Archie and the fundraising idea blossomed.
“Initially, it was just Daniel who was going to take on the challenge,” Cynthia continued. “David soon decided that he’d also like to get involved as they’re both really active and he also wanted to do something positive for Archie.”
Daniel, who plays for Aberdeen FC’s youth team, weighed up whether he would like to take on a cycling or running challenge before settling on running.
During the Easter holidays, between Monday, March 23 and Wednesday, April 1, the boys will be running for 30 minutes every day, with their final run finishing at RACH, where The Archie Foundation team is based.
“Daniel does not even like running but wanted to challenge himself to do something that was out of his comfort zone,” added Cynthia. “We’re a community-minded family, so I wasn’t too surprised when they first came to me with the idea, however, I’m proud of them both for using their time to get involved with something that benefits others.”
The brothers originally hoped to raise £500 for The Archie Foundation to support other families who find themselves in a similar situation. However, they have already surpassed their target and are now aiming to raise £1,500.
“The boys are incredibly grateful for the amazing support so far,” said Cynthia. “Thanks to everyone’s generosity, they’ve already raised an incredible £1,400, nearly tripling their original target. To keep the momentum going and make an even bigger impact, we’re setting a new stretch goal of £1,500. Every contribution helps them reach this final milestone and means the world to them.”
Nathan Reid, regional fundraising officer at The Archie Foundation, said: “Fundraising challenges like the one Daniel and David are taking on truly capture the spirit of community that makes our work possible. Their determination, commitment and willingness to push themselves for the benefit of children and families across north Scotland is incredibly inspiring.
“Everyone at Archie wishes them good luck with their challenge and we can’t wait to cheer them on when they finish their final run!”
To donate to David and Daniel’s challenge and to keep updated on their progress, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/davidanddaniel-uzowulu-1