Oa Hackett, the Founder of East Anglian charity Little Lifts, is marking her 10-year cancerversary with a year-long fundraiser and awareness campaign, the Ten for Ten Challenge, in a bid to raise £10k. Here, she explains more
Ten summers ago in 2014, Oa Hackett was diagnosed with breast cancer – at the age of 28. Shortly after her treatment and during recovery she founded Little Lifts – a charity which provides thoughtfully-crafted boxes inspired by the kindness Oa received during her own treatment. They have made a huge difference to thousands of people across the region over the last seven years.
The charity already provides ten hospitals across East Anglia with a Chemotherapy Box and a Radiotherapy Box, each filled with supportive goodies for breast cancer patients about to undergo treatment.
Little Lifts has just launched a year-long fundraiser and awareness campaign, the Ten for Ten Challenge, in a bid to raise £10k while also marking O’s ten year cancerversary. If Little Lifts manages to raise the funds, the charity hopes to expand its services to new East Anglian hospitals.
Oa says: ‘I wanted to mark this milestone by raising awareness and to celebrate all that Little Lifts has achieved during this time. Fundraising activities are often challenges, as they convey the level of resilience a person facing cancer may have to endure. That’s why a series of little (and not so little) challenges felt like the best fit for this fundraiser. We’ve even created a giant Little Lifts Box, to feature in each challenge, which is synonymous to how Little Lifts Boxes have been alongside people during their own personal challenges.’
Oa will be spearheading each of the ten events during 2024. Top of the list was a cold water dip which has recently taken place, followed by an official event to launch the Ten for Ten Challenge, the Little Lifts Trail Run 2024, which took place at Barningham Estate, North Norfolk at the weekend. More than 300 runners attended and Oa took part wearing an over-sized Little Lifts box (created by sponsors Thompson Packaging) during the race. Around £20k has been raised so far, with donations still coming in.
Other similar walks and runs will take place during other points over the year in Norfolk and London, as will an Earl Grey Blind Taste Test to see if tea aficionado, Oa, can sniff out an imposter. A 24-hour packing Party will also take place in September where Oa and a team of volunteers will spend 24 hours packing up Little Lifts boxes. Oa, who is usually the one organising fashion shows and who usually prefers to put others in the spotlight, has also been nominated by a colleague to model in the John Lewis Fashion show in June.
Lastly, Oa aims to overcome her snake phobia and take part in a snake holding experience – yet another challenge she is determined to overcome.
The ten events during the Ten for Ten Challenge include:
- Big Dip in Cold Water (completed)
- Trail Run 10k in Little Lifts Box (completed)
- Modelling in John Lewis Fashion Show (6 June)
- Little Lift in a Heat Wave (July)
- 10-mile walk in Norfolk in Little Lifts Box (3 Aug)
- Run Norwich in Little Lifts Box (8 Sept)
- 24-hour Packing Party (11 Sept)
- 10-mile London Walk in Little Lifts Box (21 Sept)
- Blind Earl Grey Taste Test (date TBC)
- Snake Phobia Challenge (date TBC)
For those who would like to either participate, attend or donate please head to the Little Lifts website for more information: littlelifts.org.uk or email hello@littlelifts.org.uk. For those who would like to sponsor Oa during her Ten for Ten Challenge, people can go to: littlelifts.enthuse.com/pf/oa-tenfortenchallenge
Featured image of Oa Hackett running in an over-sized Little Lifts box alongside a volunteer dressed in a boob-suit, by Michael J Mawby
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