A team of young Derbyshire lads are on a mission to raise more than £51,000 for chosen charity, me&dee.
Miles for Smiles (MFS) was founded by Callum Worker, 6 years ago. Callum’s daughter was
sadly born with a heart condition, Group B Streptococcus, kidney and liver failure whereby
she was treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where the healthcare professionals,
went on to save her life.
Callum and his family were eternally grateful for the staff who cared for their daughter and wanted to give them something back. Callum went on to organise a walk up Ben Nevis, with his closest friends. They initially set a target of £1,000 but exceeded this, raising just over £3,400!
The MFS team set themselves big goals, every year, to support charities across the
Midlands. In their fourth year, they asked communities which charities they’d like them to
support with their fundraising efforts that year. The chosen charity was Bank House
Mental Health raising £24,000. When MFS’ fifth year fast approached they arranged a meeting with Maria from me&dee charity and knew instantly that they were the charity they wanted to support – going on to raise £51,000 after a gruelling 280 mile hike.
“We weren’t too sure about their organisation and arranged a meeting with Maria (CEO). We quickly realised the work she does was absolutely breath-taking. Unpaid, unsociable hours and helps hundreds of families each year. You only have to read some of their testimonials to realise how truly special they are,” said Callum Worker, founder of Miles for Smiles.
Me&dee support children and their families who are going through difficult and uncertain
times. They are gifted with memories they can treasure, never losing sight of what truly
matters. They have a beautiful luxury lodge at Sherwood Forest where the families they
support, can spend time together in a quiet and tranquil setting. It’s a place where families
can leave the hospital visits behind, a break from the lovely doctors and nurses who look
after them, giving them time to be a family again.
Callum and his team, Joe Elkin, Jordan Parker and Nick Sewell, have announced that their chosen charity again this year is me&dee – taking on their biggest challenge yet – 440 miles over 16 days, stopping at 33 football grounds.
The MFS team, along with their support driver, Paul, will be starting at Liverpool FC on
Friday 12th August and finishing at their local ground in Castle Gresley on Saturday 27th
August. As they did last year, they will continue to run frequent fundraising events from
now, until the end of August, including sponsorships from businesses across the UK, in
hope that they achieve their mission of exceeding last year’s £51,000.
”We are delighted to have the support of the MFS team again this year. The MFS team take
2 weeks of their annual leave and time spent away from their families, to make such a
difference to our charity and the children and families that we support,” said Maria Hanson MBE, founder of me&dee.
“During last year’s 280 mile walk, they experienced injuries, walking in a foot plaster and
crutches, horrendous blisters but they carried on, from early morning to tea time every
single day. To walk 440 miles over 16 days will be a huge challenge for the MFS team but I
know with us and the other thousands of supporters they have, they will do it! We are
forever grateful for MFS!”
