In October 2018 we were lucky enough to meet with Steve Hill, who is Deputy Head Teacher at St Joseph’s RC School in Shaw, Oldham. Steve had heard about Milly’s Smiles through one of his pupils Eva, who had been diagnosed with cancer and received one of our Milly Bags. Steve has acquired somewhat of a reputation for his fundraising skills, and for taking on personal challenges, and after hearing about the work we do at Milly’s Smiles, he decided that we would be one of the charities he would be supporting over the coming school year.
Steve tries to lead by example and practise what he preaches to the children within St. Joseph’s, he strives to inspire them to be the very best that they can be and is continually telling the children that anything is possible and that they should never settle for anything less than their very best as they pursue their dreams.
Backed by his Year 6 class Steve is aiming to keep up the momentum of fundraising which so far has raised more than £90,000 for numerous charities.
Steve’s personal Challenges have included:-
• Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
• Climbing Mont Blanc.
• Trekking 200 miles through the Sahara Desert.
• Climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia, the highest mountain in Europe.
• Completing an expedition through the Arctic wilderness with huskies.
• Trekking through the Jungles of Borneo.
• Climbing Mount Kinabalu.
• Trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp.
• Completing the Tenzing Hillary Mount Everest Marathon.
• Completing the UVU North Pole Marathon.
• Completing the Petra Desert Marathon.
• Completing the Uganda Marathon.
• Completing the Amazon Jungle Ultra Marathon – 230km self-supported race through the Amazon Jungle.
• Completing the Arctic Ice Ultra – 230km self-supported race through the Arctic Wilderness.
Over the last 7 months we have watched Steve take on challenge after challenge in preparation for the Uganda Marathan – on 1st June.
Steve said: “As always I will be funding the trip myself and with the full support of the children at school we’ll be raising money for the Jomain Midland Academy which provides education to the remote community of Bwendero on the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria – along with the other charities we’re supporting Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Milly’s Smiles, Chernobyl Children’s Life Line and our fantastic school PTA.”
Steve and the children are also collecting trainers, sports kits, pens, pencils and other stationery to take for the children of Masaka.
“Friends, family and parents from the school have been fantastic, all offering to sponsor me while my brilliant and enthusiastic Year 6 class are always a massive source of support and encouragement.”
We are so thrilled to have been able to meet this incredible man, to spend time with his year 6 pupils and to be one of the charities to have been chosen for support.
Wishing him all the luck in the world although we are sure that he won’t need it at all! Steve Hill MBE we applaud you, thank you so much for supporting us and helping us to make a difference.
