A HIGH school teacher who often had to rely on foodbanks while growing up has completed an incredible 24 hour challenge to raise awareness of their vital need in the community.
Originally from Bridlington in Yorkshire, Kallum Richardson said that he didn't have much growing up, but his parents instilled in him an instinctive moral compass and to always be aware of those less fortunate.
Moving to St Helens almost a decade ago, the 29-year-old is now a Food Technology teacher at Sutton Academy, and he wanted to do something extra special to support pupils, families, and our local foodbanks this Christmas.
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Asking parents and pupils to support his fundraiser by donating items of food, Kallum dropped off his bulk of donations at St Helens Foodbank, based at the Hope Centre at Atherton Street, on Thursday, December 21, before embarking on his 24 hour challenge.
To raise as much donations and awareness for the foodbank as possible, Kallum started his fundraiser at 3pm inside Victoria Park, running 5km on the hour for 24 hours.
Sutton Academy pupils and teams from St Helens Foodbank came out in support of Kallum's efforts, which saw him run 120km and throughout the night in aid of the foodbank.
Kallum said: "Every year the school does something around a foodbank collection at Christmastime, but I just really wanted to push it further this year.
"My parents needed to use foodbanks at times, and growing up we didn't have much, but they instilled in me really good morals.
"I think sometimes the pupils think it is just homeless people that use foodbanks, and they aren't aware of the many people and families who work but struggle to afford to eat, so it's been great to open the dialogue with them and raise awareness of what the foodbank does.
While Kallum has become more of an avid runner in recent years, at 120km this is by far the biggest challenge he has undertaken.
However, after his family's experience of using foodbanks and hearing stories of struggling families at Christmastime, he said it was the perfect time to do something extraordinary to increase food donations over the festive period, and raise awareness of the vital work that foodbanks do.
Following his incredible challenge, Kallum added: "It has been 24 hours of pain for me, but that's nothing compared with the people and families that can't afford to eat.
"The foodbank is such an important charity so I hope that this has provided a few extra days of comfort for families."
To congratulate Kallum on his efforts, you can donate to his fundraiser for St Helens Foodbank here.
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