An eight-year-old girl has raised £220 for the Pahar Trust after taking part in this year’s Mini Parish Walk.
Freya Christopher decided to enter after becoming curious about the Parish Walk while watching people prepare for the annual event around the arboretum in St John’s.
Her mum, Rebecca, said Freya enjoys walking and had been asking questions about the event, including how old competitors had to be and how far they walked.
Freya chose to raise money for the Pahar Trust, which supports education and communities in Nepal.
She had already taken part in a fundraiser for the charity last year, helping her mum organise a ‘Sea to Summit Walk For Nepal’ from Laxey beach to the summit of Snaefell.
Her performance earned her the nickname ‘mountain goat’ after she almost ran up the mountain, leaving the rest of the group behind.
In the weeks leading up to the Mini Parish Walk, Freya went on regular walks with her family and practised her speed walking.
Freya said she wanted to support the Pahar Trust because ‘everybody deserves to have a school, clean water and food’, adding that not everyone in Nepal has access to those things.
On the day, she finished as the first girl in her age category.
She said she was ‘quite shocked’ to discover she had finished first, adding that some participants were ‘dressed like they could win the actual Parish Walk!’
Freya said: ‘I liked it all because it was quiet and peaceful around the arboretum (except the kids shouting!). I was also happy because lots of my family came to watch and that made me feel more confident.’
Speaking about her fundraising, she added: ‘It was also nice when I got told by my mum that I keep putting positive ripples all around the world by helping people and raising huge amounts of money for other people who need help.’
