February means fitness and fundraising for West Nottinghamshire college student Lydia
When most students have finished their online studies they relax and wind down, but not West Nottinghamshire College performing arts student Lydia Allen.
The 17-year-old, from Clowne, has instead been filling her February with fundraising and fitness to help a range of national charities close to her heart.
The first of Lydia’s challenges is to complete 100 miles of walking, which she is pacing herself with throughout the month around the woodlands and nature walks close to where she lives.
Having started some training in January she’s set to finish the full 100 miles at the end of the month with monies raised going to Bone Cancer Research.
She said: “A friend of my parents lost their life through cancer and someone I knew at school did too.
"I felt that if there was a way I could help those who need help, then I’d do it.”
To donate, click here.
Alongside her walking challenge, Lydia is also running 28-miles – equivalent to one mile per day throughout the month – in aid of Pancreatic Cancer Research, although some miles have to be done indoors due to lockdown restrictions.
She continued: “I’m not a runner and so building my way up to jog even one mile was difficult.
"During my walks, I see other runners running the entire distance I walk and so that has kept me motivated to jog just as far as they do.”
To donate, click here.
The third fundraising initiative Lydia is taking on is live gaming streaming for up to two hours per day, depending on her study and work commitments.
Money raised from her gaming challenge will go to mental health charity Rethink, to donate click here.
She said: “I want to make a change to how mental health is viewed and treated both in and out of educational and working environments.”
When Lydia isn’t fundraising, she studies for a BTEC extended diploma level three in dance and music at the Mansfield college with the goal of becoming a West End performer or a teacher.