Alba and her family have raised an amazing £3000 and counting for Samaritans by walking over 310,000 steps and spreading joy across Wakefield and District.
Last week, we had the distinct pleasure of being invited to a socially distant community Easter Egg Hunt marking the end of a month long fundraising journey led by local superstar Alba. At six years old, she’s raised over £3000 and counting across March for Samaritans by walking 310,000 steps around the local area– but it’s a little bit more than that.
Alba captured the day in her artwork.
When we arranged to meet Alba and her mum Sophie, we knew how much money she’d already raised, how popular her journey had become on Facebook and that she was a very special girl doing amazing things. Meeting Alba and her family, it was clear that there was so much more to it than that. From the moment we arrived in Friarwood Valley Gardens in Pontefract, where Alba had arranged her Easter Egg Hunt, it became apparent that Alba was on a mission to raise far more than money.
As families started to approach the Easter Egg Hunt, they already knew Alba and what she’d been doing for Samaritans. They accepted a pack of easter clues that Sophie and Alba had prepared and proceeded to explore the park that had been decorated for the occasion. Alba made sure that the final egg to find included the Samaritans logo so that the brave Easter explorers could sound it out and learn more about what it means before being presented with one of the Easter Eggs Alba and her family had organised.
Talking to Sophie and Grant, Alba’s parents, her fundraising efforts were about far more than just raising money. Across her month of walking, Alba had been spreading joy wherever she went, leaving acts of kindness for local people to find across Wakefield and District, with Samaritans freephone number attached. If that wasn’t enough, she’s collected over 100 bags of litter on her travels, earning her green Blue Peter badge in the process.
We were welcomed straightaway by Alba and her family and friends. Sophie was very open with me about the difficulties Alba and her family have experienced surrounding mental health since Alba was very young, what they continue to go through and the long road it has taken to get to where they are now. It helped to understand the drive behind what Alba was doing and how Sophie and Grant were powering her ambitions, no matter how big or small. Sophie mentioned that Alba’s original target was to raise £50, a goal she wasn’t sure she’d reach. At £3200 and counting, Alba’s attitude and kindness had clearly captured the community.
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We were grateful that Alba seemed to get on very well with us. After leaving some glittery eggs for a spider hiding in the bushes, we got talking about all the work she’d been doing. She didn’t seem phased by how much she’d accomplished, nor how many people had come out to the park to support her and raise money for Samaritans. “All these people are here because of you!” Sophie told her. “No big deal”, Alba replied. What was striking was that, every step of the way, Alba was leading a charge of positivity, of hope. Her no nonsense, honest nature had been a determined and powerful motivator for her support of her dad Grant, her work for Samaritans and her down to earth view of the world. In only a few hours, we learned a lot from Alba.
Alba asked if Samaritans make people happy when they’re sad. We told her that we listen to how people are feeling and we hope that talking will help. She seemed satisfied with that answer – we learned quickly that she would have told us if she wasn’t! Before leaving, we watched Alba draw for a while. Sophie told me we were in Alba’s world now but it felt like we’d been there all along. She’d brought families together safely during a pandemic to a park she’d made beautiful, designed a treasure hunt for them, rewarded them with easter eggs and plenty of fun, chatting to everyone. It seemed that Alba’s world was one of acceptance, love, honesty, positivity and perseverance and we were grateful to get a glimpse of it – if only for a while.
We learned some fun tarantula facts and the power of giving things a shot, from Grant and acceptance, positivity and hard work from Sophie. Alba taught us strength, friendship, fun and the courage to be yourself. Of course we’re so grateful to Alba, her family and all of their supporters for their work which has raised now over £3000 for Samaritans, helping us answer over 600 calls, but we’re equally grateful to know we’ve got such an inspiring young girl in our community showing us all the value of being ourselves and helping others. There’s no doubt Alba is changing our world, one step at a time.
