Lytham St Annes resident Dave Perkins has been raising funds to help get British Military Veterans, who are sleeping rough on our streets, or in some cases off grid in the countryside, into shelter and provide support to those who are facing tough mental challenges and are contemplating suicide.
The Charity that Dave is supporting is called Alabaré . They support homeless Veterans in a unique way, by teaching them how to build their own homes, which in turn teaches them a skill and in doing so help these people integrate into society thus providing them with a future. The Charity also provides support to those veterans who are contemplating suicide as a way out which is sadly on the increase.
Dave is taking part in an event to raise money for Alabare and will be cycling 302 miles, organised by Ex SAS Major, TV Presenter, Ken Hames, MBE. Starting in Gibraltar they will be cycling up to the mountains of Andalucía in Southern Spain facing category 1 ascents totalling 8,600m which is just shy of summitting Everest at 8848m.
There was a target set of £2500 which if surpassed would see Dave’s excess hair shaved off, he decided to grow this as a challenge to support the fundraising events. Allan Oldfield CEO of Fylde Borough Council kindly obliged with the haircut.
Dave’s fundraising really took off when he joined the Walking Rugby programme provided by Fylde Rugby Community Foundation. Dave said: “In August 2021, I stumbled on a Facebook post advertising Walking Rugby for over 50’s, provided by Fylde Rugby Community Foundation. The primary idea of the Foundation is to offer Rugby for All, regardless of age, ability, sex, or religion. I could not have possibly known the impact to both my professional and personal life following my decision to attend that first session, that instantly rekindled the feeling of belonging to a community who share the same values of respect, discipline, team spirit and sportsmanship, which are instilled in the game and its players the world over.”
In addition thanks to members of the Walking Rugby programme and the wider rugby community of Fylde RFC, at a Fylde 1st team pre-match lunch in February Dave managed to raise a whopping £1010 to surpass his target up to £2910. This is thanks to the generous donations of the hospitality guests and in particular a substantial donation from Questa Chartered.
Photos below is of Sir Bill Beaumont who is president of The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation and lifelong member of Fylde Rugby Club, awarding the cheque to Dave at a recent Fylde home game. Along with Allan Oldfield CEO of Fylde Council cutting Dave’s hair at a Beach Walking Rugby event run by The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation in partnership with Global Beach Sports.
Photo above: (left to right) Graham Lanigan, Susanne Garrod, Sir Bill Beaumont, David Perkins & Phill Mills.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-perkins10
