Where would you be? Teenager urges others to join Destination Challenge and raise money for children’s hospice

It took 15-year-old James Davies eight days to complete his 213-mile Destination Challenge – the distance between his chosen charity, Chestnut Tree House, and the French capital city.

Now the St Philip Howard Catholic School year-ten student is calling on others to take on their own challenge by asking the question: where would you be?

James said: “I want to make a real difference for Chestnut Tree House so I have set up the #DestinationChallenge project, with a timeline as long as we like.

“I hope people will join me in supporting the amazing work that Chestnut Tree House do for children with life-limiting conditions, in particular, helping them live life to the full so they can do some of the ordinary things that we take for granted, like a swim in their special pool or enjoy a pizza and a movie with a friend.

“Chestnut Tree House has lost so much of its income during the coronavirus pandemic and I was determined to do something to help.”

As part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, James was due to start volunteering at the Chestnut Tree House charity shop in Chichester before it closed due to the pandemic, so he developed the social media project to allow him to fulfil his volunteering commitment and raise money.

Participants are asked to pick a destination and an activity, and document it through a Facebook page, securing sponsorship on the way for the children’s hospice.

Tracey Shaw, community fundraiser at Chestnut Tree House, said: “We’re absolutely bowled over by the creativity and ingenuity of this project, devised by James, and we are hoping that many people, of all ages, will get on board and participate.”

One person who has already taken up the challenge is eight-year-old Emilia-Rose, who was booked in for a horse-riding lesson last week.

Instead, she rode her hobby horse around her garden as many times as she could in an hour, and has so far raised £75 for the children’s hospice.

James said: “Where would you be if the pandemic hadn’t happened? Sign up and join me. All the instructions on how to do it are on the Facebook page. It’s really simple.”

Visit the Destination Challenge Facebook page or donate to James’ fundraiser on the JustGiving website.

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