Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (GCHC) have teamed up for Lap the Map.
Two Scottish charities are going head to head in a virtual fundraising race to raise funds for the children’s hospitals they support.
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) has teamed up with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (GCHC) for Lap the Map – a fundraising challenge which pits supporters from each charity against each other to see who can cover an agreed distance the fastest.
Created in summer 2020 to bring communities together during Covid, Lap the Map is now in its third year and has raised over £250,000 so far.
This year’s challenge runs from Monday 13th to Sunday 26th June and participants are encouraged to walk, run or wheel to clock up as many kilometres as possible over the two weeks.
The first team to virtually cover the 35,000km of Australia’s coastlines is crowned the winner.
Mum Nicky Henderson is joining Team Edinburgh to say thank you to ECHC for the support the charity gave their family when their daughter Mara was rushed to hospital at just six months old.
She said: “Our little girl Mara had just never been well since birth. One night, she took very unwell in Aberdeen and was intubated and flown to Edinburgh in the middle of the night.
“When you are plucked from everything you know so suddenly and unexpectedly and under the worst circumstances, the last thing you think about is where you are going to stay! ECHC made the worst time of our lives that bit easier and we will always be so grateful.
“We took part in Lap the Map last year for Team Edinburgh and have signed up again to raise some money following our lengthy hospital admission.
“When we were in hospital, we enjoyed hearing the staff speaking about clocking up their kilometres and it was so much fun taking part last year, we knew we had to do it again. We are ready and raring to go. Let’s do this Team Edinburgh!”
Both charities are now calling on more people from across Edinburgh and the East, and Glasgow and the West, to sign-up to this year’s challenge.
Amy Russell, Senior Fundraiser at ECHC, said: “Though we’re all aware of the friendly rivalry between the East and West, our charities share a common goal – supporting children and families at our local children’s hospitals – and we rely entirely on fundraising and donations to be able to do this.
“As it is currently one-all, we are more determined than ever to take the trophy back from Glasgow this year and prove once and for all that Edinburgh really is the best coast! We hope many more people will sign up to make their kilometres count.
“By fundraising as they race, participants help to bring smiles and support to the children and families who use our hospitals every day – making them the real winners of Lap the Map.”
