Soldiers in Liverpool aim to give Father Christmas a Covid test in time for Christmas
It's all in aid of our charity Cash For Kids
As Mass testing continues across Liverpool we can reveal the project is set to roll out even further - to Lapland!
In between helping to test thousands here a group of soldiers are rowing and cycling the equivalent distance (almost 2000 miles) between Pontins in Southport - where they're staying - to go and give Santa a Covid test in time for Christmas.
And it's all to raise money for our charity Cash for kids!
The total distance is 3610km which we will cycle. This will be conducted on 2 bikes throughout and 2 rowing machines with the Army rotating through when they are on rest periods between Covid testing.
Sgt Michael McNaughton from the 1st Batallion Irish Guards says they're honoured to help out :
"One of the lads tried to justify why he wasn't at home currently and he decided he'd tell them he was testing Father Christmas.
"A lot of people suggested it and it was a recurring thing to try Cash For Kids and not being able to provide for your kids and not being to see that bit of joy for them on Christmas Day is genuinely heartbreaking, a lot of the guys have got kids and we can sympathise with them with what's going on at the moment"
Phase 1- (Cycle 546km) The distance from Pontins Southport – Aberdeen
Phase 2-(Row 503Km) The distance from Aberdeen – Stravanger (Norway)
Phase 3- (Cycle 2121Km) The distance from Stravanger - Lapland.
So far the regiment have raised almost £3,000, which includes a £1,000 offline donation from The Irish Guards Regimental council. All funds raised will be used to buy toys and gifts for children as part of Radio City’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign.
The Radio City Mission Christmas campaign launched last Monday and has already received over 11,000 applications from the local community, putting forward families who are struggling as a result of long term furlough, those who have been made redundant or for children who have sadly lost a parent to the virus. This combined with 1 in 3 children living in poverty in our local area, we expect to receive a high volume of applications throughout the campaign.
Laura Charlton, Charity Manager at Radio City Cash for Kids said “This is such an incredible way to raise funds for such a vital cause, we have experienced such a need already and we want to make sure no child wakes up this year without a toy or gift from Santa, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards have already raised a great amount of money for our Mission Christmas campaign and we will use all funds raised to buy toys and gifts for local children and young people who would otherwise wake up without a present to open this year, we would like to thank everyone who is cycling and donating, your support means so much to local families who need us most this Christmas”.
If you would like to donate to the Army and show your support, whilst also donating to provide presents for disadvantaged children and young people you can visit their page: