Press release – 11 November
A lady from Hertfordshire is celebrating her 80th birthday in an epic fundraiser supporting people left without shelter after disaster.
When Pam Caddow joked with her nephew about celebrating her birthday by swimming a length of the pool for each year of her life, it sparked an idea: A birthday swimathon to raise funds for the international disaster relief charity, ShelterBox.
The Cornwall-based charity specialises in emergency shelter supporting people affected by disaster and conflict around the world.
The grandmother of two, Pam, is no stranger to active challenges having spent her 75th birthday kayaking in Antarctica. She is a regular at her gym, a member of her local choir and walking group, and volunteers as a warden in her local park.
She says: “I hadn’t thought about how my joke with my nephew Hugo might sneak up and bite me in the bottom. But now I’m faced with 80 lengths of my local pool.
“I’m pleased to report my training swims are going well but we will see what happens on the day! I’m encouraged by the tremendous support of my friends and family, some of whom will be cheering me on and, more importantly, keeping track of my lengths.
“I’m really looking forward to the physical challenge and to raising vital funds for ShelterBox.”
As well as shelter, the charity supplies items like solar lights, mosquito nets and kitchen sets; simple but essential items when people have been uprooted from their homes and left with very little.
The charity is currently responding to conflict in the Middle East, working with local partners to support people with tents and essential items like water carriers and blankets in Gaza. It has also launched an urgent appeal to help fund its emergency response in Lebanon and other crises around the world.
ShelterBox was founded in 2000 by a Rotary Club in Helston and since then the two organisations have worked closely to reach more people affected by disaster.
It was through her membership with Hertford Rotary Club that Pam learnt about ShelterBox’s work.
She continues: “ShelterBox appealed to me because of its practical approach to disaster relief. I clearly saw this as a Rotary volunteer in Sierra Leone in 2008 and Kenya in 2009.
“It’s an incredible charity that gets people the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives.”
Despite her swim being a few days away, Pam has already smashed her fundraising target, raising over £1,000 via her online fundraising page. Friends and family have generously donated with many leaving messages of good luck for Pam’s challenge which will take place on 14 November at her local swimming pool.
Community fundraising assistant at ShelterBox, John Stanbury, says: “We are so grateful that Pam has chosen to take on this incredible challenge and encouraged all her family and family to support her in celebration of her 80th year. She has inspired us all. Happy birthday from ShelterBox and thank you for making a life changing difference to those who have lost so much.
“We rely on public donations so it’s our supporters, like Pam, who make our work possible.”
To find out more about fundraising for ShelterBox people can email [email protected] or for updates on the charity’s work can sign up to its mailing list.
As well as the Middle East, ShelterBox is supporting people affected by conflict in countries including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Chad and Yemen.
To find out more about ShelterBox visit: shelterbox.org.
ENDS
For more information contact the press office at ShelterBox via [email protected].
Notes to Editors
Images and captions included.
Interviews available on request with John Stanbury and Pam Caddow.
