Our 2009 charity partner is: When You Wish Upon a Star

They write: When You Wish Upon a Star are delighted to be joint beneficiary of this year’s Viking Challenge alongside Redmile School - especially during this special year as we celebrate our 18th Birthday.

For the past 18 years with the help and support of people like you, When You Wish Upon a Star has granted over 14,000 Wishes of children across the UK, all of whom have life threatening illnesses.

All children have Wishes, but for these children and their families that Wish is so much more precious as it provides the opportunity to escape a routine of hospital appointments and often gruelling and invasive treatments. Over the years we have seen that making Wishes come true is not only beneficial to the poorly child, but also to the parents, as they see their child’s tears transformed into laughter and frowns turned upside down.

The money raised by the Viking challenge will go towards granting these very special Wishes which are often varied and far reaching. For some it is a trip to Disneyland in Florida or Paris, for others it is a chance to get up close to a favourite pop star or sporting hero. Some children Wish to be a princess or soldier for the day, whilst others would like toys or a computer to catch up on their schoolwork or keep in touch with friends. Christmas however is the highlight of the Charity’s year as we take over 400 children on a magical trip of a lifetime to meet the real Father Christmas in Lapland. Whatever the Wish, wherever possible, When You Wish Upon a Star will endeavour to make that Wish come true.

The Viking Challenge is such a fantastic event which represents an overwhelming sense of community spirit and adventure. It is only with the help and generosity of people like you that we are able to continue granting the Wishes that we receive into our office every week directly from these children’s hearts so please join in the fun this year with your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and together help to raise as much money as possible through sponsorship to help our special work to continue - turning the Wishes of the most incredibly brave and courageous children into a reality, creating a lifetime of treasured memories for the children and their families.

Our Charity Partnerships

Such is the success of the event that besides raising essential funds for our school we are delighted to be able to support other charities. Each year we choose a different charity partner to whom half of the total monies raised are given.

Often the charity is suggested by a parent, or local resident and charities that have benefited include: Multiple Sclerosis Society, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, National Meningitis Trust, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Leukemia Research Fund, Mencap, NSPCC, Macmillan Cancer Relief and Help the Hospices.

Since it began in 1995 the Viking Challenge has raised nearly £250,000 for the school and its charity partners.

How You Can Help

You don’t need to be a cyclist to help support the event. You can give your support in the following ways;

Corporate sponsorship If your organisation is interested in supporting the Viking Challenge, please contact us on info@vikingchallenge.org.uk

Making a donation

There is a donation section on the online entry form and the download pdf entry form. Thank you for all your support and helping to make a difference to Redmile C of E Primary School and our chosen charity for 2009 :When You Wish Upon a Star.

Volunteering

It takes over 100 volunteers on the day itself with many more planning and organizing it in the months before – from baking cakes to marshalling the course if you would like to get involved do contact us on info@vikingchallenge.org.uk