Dedicated duo begin new Bear Miles challenge!

A mum and her son have dedicated themselves to giving back to Sheffield Children’s Hospital to say thank you for the care the family received.

Sarah Else and her son, 12-year-old Jack Cummings, started their volunteering for The Children’s Hospital Charity for last summer’s Bears of Sheffield sculpture trail.

Mum Sarah explains: “We just love the thought of helping others and raising money for such a wonderful cause.

“From installing and de-installing the Bears, to the Farewell at Meadowhall and the final auction, we were lucky enough to be involved at every stage of the trail. Jack and I also both did bucket collections to help raise some money for Sheffield Children’s.”

As well as the Bears of Sheffield, the dedicated duo have also volunteered at our snowflake switch-on, the Egg Run, Theo’s Glow Run, the Chatsworth Walk, Sheffield Half Marathon, for bucket collections, as well as several upcoming events.

Sarah continues: “We absolutely love working with the Charity team! Jack especially loves helping make their TikToks.”

For Sarah and Jack, volunteering is also a way of giving back for the care he received at Sheffield Children’s Hospital:

Sarah adds: “When Jack was small, he was under the care of Sheffield Children’s for asthma. The staff in the Emergency Department and in the respiratory ward were all amazing with him and they were so reassuring, always keeping me updated on how he was doing. We’d like to say a big thank you to them.”

As well as their volunteering, Jack is also leading the way with his fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity’s ‘Bear Miles’ challenge, which is celebrating the Bears of Sheffield raising over £1M.

The fundraiser involves walking, running, swimming or cycling a mile a day for 30 days, to help reach a wider community target of 2,021 miles to celebrate the year of the Bear!

Participants can register for free or alternatively pay £15 to secure a limited-edition medal and plush bear at the end of the trail. The aim is to raise as much as you can to support Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Those who raise £50 will receive a Bears-themed Magnet, Pencil Pot, Notepad and Notelet. Anyone who raises £100 will receive a Tote bag, Souvenir Guide and Keyring too!

Sarah explains: “Jack wanted to raise some money himself and thought this would be the perfect opportunity, as we visited all the Bears of Sheffield last summer. We are really enjoying our walks each day.”

Jack adds: “I am really enjoying going for a walk each day with my mum. We have been to and are going to go to some nice places which I am looking forward to.”

So far, Jack has walked seven miles, raising more than £200 towards a new Helipad at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Currently, air ambulances land in Weston Park where trauma patients are then stretchered across a busy road under a police escort before entering the Emergency Department at Sheffield Children’s.

The new helipad will reduce the delays for patients who need urgent critical care from across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

Jack continues: “I can’t believe it, I was very shocked to see how much I have got so far. I asked mum to put our target at £100 and I didn’t think I could get that much. Now I have over £200 and I would be very happy if I could reach £250.”

Cheryl Davidson, Head of Community and Events at The Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “Jack and Sarah both volunteered throughout the whole of Bears of Sheffield and what they did was nothing short of amazing.

“The Bears of Sheffield wouldn’t have been the project it was without volunteers like Jack and Sarah, so we are very grateful and thankful for all they did and continue to do to support Sheffield Children’s.

“It’s fantastic that Jack is going even further above and beyond by taking part in Bears Miles. He’s an inspiration, thank you Jack!”

To join Jack in taking part, click here.