Senior dancer from Crawley taking part in big charity challenge

Noreen, who attends senior Ballet and Musical Theatre classes at the Louise Ryrie School of Dance and Drama based in Northgate, is taking part in the 2.6 marathon challenge to help charities due to The London Marathon being postponed because of the coronavirus.

The pandemic and subsequent lockdown has had a catastrophic effect with the cancellation of thousands of events and the loss of billions in income through fundraising events.

Many charities have had to reduce or stop services at a time when vulnerable members of society need them most, with thousands of staff having been placed on furlough.

The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday April 26, is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.

As it cannot take place as planned, its organisers have created a ”lockdown-friendly event” which is easy for anyone to join in and make a difference, especially for smaller local charities.

People have to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 that suits their skills and complete it on Sunday 26 April – when the 40th London Marathon would have taken place.

This could be something like pledging to run or ride 2.6 miles as your daily exercise, holding the plank for 2.6 minutes, to gardening for 26 minutes.

Noreen has some mobility issues, and has set herself a big challenge of doing 26 balances - a ballet movement.

She is raising money for Children’s Cancer charity UK and you can support her by going to www.virginmoneygiving.com/NoreenOxlade

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