LRL Supports ‘60 Chair Challenge’ to Help Vulnerable Mums to Stand Tall

LRL Roofing has become the latest Manchester company to support an unusual challenge that’s being undertaken by leadership coach and charity founder Lily Newman. Lily, renowned for taking on all manner of crazy fundraising capers including Wing Walking, Sky Diving and cycling the TransPennine Trails in support of health education charity Act4Africa, has decided to embark on a different way of raising money, by sitting down for her 60th birthday!

Over the next 60 days, Lily will be sitting in 60 different chairs in 60 different places—some funny, some famous, some deeply personal. 

Each seat represents a moment of reflection and a chance to raise money for Act4Africa, the charity that she helped to found 25 years ago. She is inviting companies across Greater Manchester to sponsor a chair for £250.00. The money raised by her challenge will enable Act4Africa to provide:

• Training Places on the charity’s Strong Mother’s Programme in Mayuge, Uganda – helping vulnerable 12 – 20-year-old mums to access the psychological support, education and life skills to build a better future for themselves and their families.
   
• Places at Act4Africa’s jewel in the crown, Kathy’s Kindergarten in Uganda, giving the children of vulnerable mums the numeracy, literacy and social skills to ensure they have the very best start in life.

Said Lily, “I am thrilled that LRL Roofing is sponsoring a chair! I have worked with the company for 10 years and they have such a philanthropic heart – always aiming to improve the quality of lives in the communities they work in. It makes it extra special that they are willing to support one of the most vulnerable communities in Uganda too.”

Said LRL's CEO, Rob Lomax, “We are thrilled to sponsor a chair for Lily’s unusual challenge. We are committed to supporting UK communities through our charitable work at LRL and have always supported educational projects. Having worked with Lily to build a values led business for some time, we were thrilled to help her to achieve her goal in providing better education and helping young mothers to set up micro-businesses in Africa so that they and their children can have a better future.” 

Want to Join in the Big Chair Challenge?

Lily continued,

“We’ve had some superb suggestions of chairs I might sit in. If anyone has contacts who could help me to sit in the Taskmaster’s Chair or at the Traitors table, that would be incredible. I also thought it would be fun to sit on King Charles’ throne, or in his bathroom but that might be pushing it too far!”

Act4Africa was founded by Altrincham couple Martin and Kathy Smedley 25 years ago, with the help of Lily and a small group of friends. Kathy sadly died of a brain tumour 10 years ago but Lily is determined to continue the couple’s work to help vulnerable women and girls to live their best lives and overcome the social and economic challenges they face in Uganda.

Lily is looking for more company sponsors who will help her to achieve her £6000 target. If you would like to help, please contact:

Lily@morganjamesconsulting.co.uk or call 0776 4585030

If you would like to make a donation here to her Big Chair Challenge, and help vulnerable mums and children in Africa to stand tall, that would be fantastic!