Wellingborough girl shows her support for the Poppy Appeal with skateboarding challenge

The 12-year-old will be skateboarding for a minimum of 11 minutes every day for 11 days
Annabelle Swales of Wellingborough (picture credit: Bob Caddick Photography, Wellingborough)Annabelle Swales of Wellingborough (picture credit: Bob Caddick Photography, Wellingborough)
Annabelle Swales of Wellingborough (picture credit: Bob Caddick Photography, Wellingborough)

A 12-year-old from Wellingborough is raising money for the Royal British Legion by taking on its 11/11 Challenge on her skateboard.

After seeing the impact Covid-19 is having on fundraising for this year's Poppy Appeal, Annabelle Swales decided she wanted to help.

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Writing on her JustGiving page, Annabelle said: "I want to try to help raise money for the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal as I know that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the amount of volunteers that would usually be selling the poppies in our local shops this year.

Annabelle on her skateboardAnnabelle on her skateboard
Annabelle on her skateboard

"So I will skateboard for a minimum of 11 minutes, every day, for the next 11 days.

"I am also doing this in remembrance of my great grandparents who gave up so much, and helped protect our country in the Second World War."

Annabelle's parents Justine and Richard are incredibly proud of their daughter and her fundraising efforts.

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Mum Justine Woodbridge told the Northants Telegraph: "We noticed that there didn’t seem to be as many poppy sellers in the shops this year, and with lockdown starting again we realised that it would be difficult to sell the poppies and for the Poppy Appeal to reach a wide audience.

"So, as Annabelle really loves skateboarding but is quite new to the sport, we thought that it would be a good way for her to raise some funds for the Royal British Legion.

"We requested the fundraising pack from the RBL and read that the fundraising challenge this year is titled the ‘11/11 Challenge’.

"So Annabelle thought that she could skateboard for a minimum of 11 minutes every day, for 11 days, to end on November 11."

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Annabelle attends Sir Christopher Hatton Academy in Wellingborough, and the school usually has an Armistice Day Service where the whole school gather in the Heart of Hatton.

Sadly this won't be possible this year due to Covid-19, but the school is still planning on commemorating the important date via a live streaming event for students.

Justine added: "We have been really overwhelmed with the donations so far, from people we don’t know as well as friends and family.

"Annabelle passed her original target of £50 on day one, so increased it to £135, then up to £250.

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"Hopefully she can reach this target for The Royal British Legion too."

Annabelle has already raised £220, but anyone who would like to add to this and make a donation can do so by clicking here.

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