21 intrepid trevellers were led in to the mountainous regions of the Golden Gate National Park and the Spionkop region by four ex-premiership football players, Bob Bolder, Glenn Keeley, David Oldfield and Peter Nicholson. Each player captained a team of volunteers over eight days where they took on the ultimate challenge!

Day One

After 16 hours of travelling to reach their South African destination, the team rested up before the challenge began.

Day Two

Everyone was ready for some action! A 60k cycle ride through Golden Gate National Park along a rough stone trail with many difficult ascents but happy to report everyone survived!

Day Three

This was an early start and saw everyone take part in a 7k hike where stunning panoramic views could be seen for miles.

Day Four

A very busy day for Team Children Today! Everyone travelled to Spionkop Activity Centre where the challenges included mountain boarding, quad biking, archery and a 300m zip wire! After all that excitement an enjoyable 5k hike took place, where along the way zebras and giraffes were spotted! In the evening the team were treated to a fascinating presentation by Raymond Heron on the history of the Boer War and the affects on the people of South Africa.

Day Five

This was a particularly special and unique day for all those involved -  the community day. Each member of the team was transferred to Mpondueni School where they built a jungle gym and donated stationery and other items as well as the bikes from the previous cycle challenge to the children  as some of the children have up to a 20k round journey to school each day. Each member of the challenge was extremely humbled by this and it is something they will never forget. They finished the day with a horse riding challenge where more of the local wild life was observed.

Day Six

Another early start! Heading to the Drakensberg National Park where a tricky 12k trek was undertaken. This sounds like a walk in the park compared to some of the other challenges but the short distance means nothing when the gradients are this extreme!

Day seven

The final day. Water was the theme for today - rafting to be more precise.   The current was strong so in turn a very physically demanding challenge. After all this hard work of the last few days, Team Children Today went for a well earned drink before returning home tomorrow.

Team Blackburn Rovers with captain Glenn Keeley won the challenge, but all the participants were winners on this incredible journey. Not only did each and every one complete the series of challenges, but they have all raised significant funds to help disabled children throughout the UK.

Thank you everyone for all your hard work. Hope to see you next time on the PFA Malaysia Challenge 2011!

On this warm day spectators turned out in their droves to support the eight teams that took part and who collectively raised £8 000 for disabled children!

Every team was brimming with enthusiasm as they prepared to take on the many daft inflatable, wet games involved in this challenge. By the end of the games there was not a dry contestant in the arena!

Children Today would like to say well done to Expotel Reservations who were crowned the winners of the Manchester event. We would also like to thank all the other teams who took part and worked hard to raise their sponsorship money, Bolton Barmy Army, North Manchester Youth Offending Service, the three teams from the Greater Manchester Police, The Albert Inn and the Foster Care Association.

We caught up with John in Paris at the finish line under the Eiffel Tower.  He said the trip was “…a fantastic experience. So well-organised and we had a lot of fun along the way. Everyone I met was raising money for a great cause and there was a fantastic team spirit throughout the event.”

The glorious sunshine brought plenty of spectators out to watch the 13 teams get soaking wet and covered in foam as the they competed to be the winner of these madcap challenges!

The teams were divided up into two sessions so we have two winners of the Kent ‘It’s a Knockout’. Canterbury High School team the Foxy Devils won the first session and Simon Wright Homes won the second!

But well done and thank you to all the teams that took part, The Marlowe Academy, NHS Occupational Therapists, Chuck Norris Allstars, United House Limited, Barclays Bank East Kent, the three teams from Barclays Bank Maidstone, Credit Crunchers, Summit Engineering Limited and the Big Fun Boys team from Canterbury High School.

Everyone had a fantastic experience and lots of fun was had by all - as you can see by the pictures!

The winners of the Coventry challenge were Parcelforce worldwide, second place were Barclays Coventry Contact Centre and in third place were Co-op Coventry NDC.

We would like to say a big thank to those teams and to the other teams who took part, Ward 40, Coventry City Council, Central Tree Care, Re:vibe Ltd, Circle of Friends Day Nursery and Nuneaton Fitness & Wellbeing Centre.

Locally based published artist, Louis Sidoli, judged the competition and was highly impressed by the quality of the work, saying ”There have been some extremely interesting interpretations of the theme.”

James Plaskitt MP kindly supported the charity again and presented certificates to the prize winners:

Adult category: 1st prize - Tom Starley, 2nd prize - Eve Payne
10-16 yrs: 1st prize - Gail Williams, 2nd prize - Ellie Garden

Emma Fawcett, Regional Fundraising Manager said, “We were very impressed with the quality of the entries for this competition. Gail Williams particularly thought very hard about the theme and her portrayal of a disabled child watching the world go by “through his window” was very moving and exactly the kind of thing the charity works to help change by funding vital equipment for disabled children in the area.”

Adam De la Salle Tubbs, gallery manager, said, “We are delighted that Castle Galleries could be involved in this competition, not just to help raise money for this wonderful cause but also to encourage local artists.”

All photographs are coutsey of Storm Studios, Leamington Spa.

On arrival a briefing was given telling the group what to expect and how to be best involved.

Investigations were carried out in several areas of this old building and several findings were made. There were two people who had a surge of emotion as they were connected to happenings from times gone by.

Elizabeth Oakes Regional Fundraising Manager for Children Today said “It was a really exciting evening, we were all very much included in these findings and the atmosphere was scary. I want to thank all who attended and supported the charity which provides grants to purchase specialist equipment for children with disability locally.”

Already the event has raised in excess of £800 with more to come in yet.

For more a more detailed report of  the night please go to http://www.ghostwhisperers.co.uk/Investigation_Reports/Entries/2009/4/17_Ryecroft_Hall.html .

Zesh is a regular supporter of Children Today and when he heard that Carl who has severe learning difficulties and autism would greatly benefit from having a swing to encourage physical exercise outdoors he donated the money to purchase the specialist item.

Many thanks Zesh.

www.zeshrehman.com

Every pupil was given one of our home collecting boxes to fill at home prior to the week and during the week itself a whole variety of fundraising events took place eg sponsored silences, cycle rides, sponsored walk in pyjamas and cake sales.  All this resulted in a massive £1380.06 cheque which was presented to our very own Penny Weir at their assembly on 4th March.   Penny presented individual certificates to those students who had made particularly impressive efforts.

Part of the money raised has been spent on a special piece of kit for 12 year old Aaron Creese.  Aaron’s mum Linda got in touch with Children Today and asked us to fund a mobility scooter for him costing £760.  Aaron is delighted and his mum wrote to Year 8 pupils to thank them for their support. 

She said “Aaron’s independence has improved so much because he is in charge of the scooter and doesn’t have to rely on anyone to push him.  He has become so much more independent and is getting used to thinking for himself and dealing with the outside world.  Hopefully his confidence will grow too.  Thank you so much Year 8 and Children Today, love Aaron’s mum Linda”.

Gabriella’s parents identified that a specialised car seat would also greatly assist access into and out of the family car, reducing the strain and risk of injury to her parents as Gabriella grows.  The car seat tilts and turns and can be turned to face the open car door to make access easier.  The seat is comfortable, easily turned and has plenty growing room for Gabriella.

Currently there is no statutory funding available in Stockport to meet the cost of equipment such as this car seat.  When Gabriella’s family applied to Children Today for a grant we were only too pleased to assist, and thanks to the support of No1 Copperpot credit union based in Cheadle we were able to help Gabriella.