David Conquers the Three Capitals Challenge for Northfield Community Partnership!

Our amazing volunteer, David, is taking on The Three Capitals Challenge! 🏃‍♂️✨He has kindly and generously chosen to raise funds in support of our work here at NCP! He began with the Paris Half Marathon on 9th March, followed by the London Marathon on 27th April, and will complete the challenge with the Edinburgh Marathon on 25th May, covering a total of 66 incredible miles!

What inspired you to take part in these three runs?

It all just sort of came together really. I’d been trying to get an entry for the London marathon for years and finally got a place through the draw this year. I was also going to do the Paris half marathon as unfinished business - I had a place for that in 2020 but it got cancelled due to COVID. Edinburgh came about because a friend of mine had signed up to it and I don’t like to miss out! I do a fair bit of running and having events in the calendar is a great way for me to keep focused.

How did you first hear about our charity?

I actually bumped into the pop up stall that you run in Sainsbury’s occasionally – there was a load of leaflets advertising the work the charity does and the Bridgebuilders Befriending scheme really stood out for me. Since then I’ve become aware of the other work the charity does in the community and how many people it helps.

Do you have a personal connection to our cause?

As mentioned I’ve been a Bridgebuilder volunteer for 18 months. I was looking for something positive to do with my time and to do something that wasn’t just for me. The idea is to be paired up with someone isolated and help them to reconnect and build their confidence. It’s been a brilliant experience which I would recommend to anyone – some challenges, but overall very positive and I feel like I’m helping my Friend. We’ve arranged board game evenings with other befrienders and friends, have regular coffee catchups, and are starting to build a little community of people, which has been wonderful to see.

Why did you choose to support our charity specifically?

I wanted to fundraise for the NCP as a way to give something back – getting involved with the charity has done wonders for my mental health, helped me to see Northfield in a whole new light, and given me a real sense of purpose. Seeing the network of people and support that are on offer is very inspiring, and even led to me changing my job away from the corporate world to doing something more helpful. With Birmingham Council’s money problems, I figured that now more than ever some extra pennies in the kitty could come in handy, so it was an easy decision to make to support the NCP. I’m proud to play a small part in the work that NCP does and am grateful for the opportunity I’ve had!

Thank you, David, for your incredible hard work and dedication! We're extremely grateful that you chose to fundraise for us!

You can donate to his fundraiser here: David Collard is fundraising for Northfield Community Partnership