Fundraising & Open Day at the Shed!

The Bromsgrove Shedders are inviting members of the local community along to a special Fundraising and Open Day being held at ‘The Shed’ on Sunday 3rd October (9am-3pm), which includes a ‘Marathon’ and a ‘Ping-Pong-a-Thon’!

Sunday 3 October 2021 is set to be the world’s first 100,000-person marathon with 50,000 participants in a virtual event joining 50,000 people on the traditional London Marathon course. One of those taking part the virtual event will be Abi Swarbrick who will be running a marathon, in and around Stoke Prior, to help raise money for Age UK BRWF’s Bromsgrove Men in Sheds, which she describes as being a ‘lifeline’ for her father-in-law, Phil.

Men in Sheds originates from an Australian project, called Men’s Sheds, as a way of tackling loneliness and social isolation in older men. From the calls that Age UK BRFW receives, it knows that initiatives like Bromsgrove Men In Sheds have never been needed more.

Phil said his involvement with the Bromsgrove Shed came about as a result of ‘circumstance and coincidence’. After suffering a major condition, followed by eighteen months of surgery, Phil tried to adopt a ‘can-do’ approach but, whilst his body started to recover, the experience had had a significant impact on his emotional wellbeing. Phil sought solace in his workshop but was becoming increasingly isolated. Whilst working, Abi met a Shedder who admired a wooden pen that she was using that Phil had made for her – he told her about the Shed and after much persuasion from his family, Phil decided to go along.

“The welcome that I received from the Shedders was such that I decided to join - this decision was one of the better ones I have ever made. That one decision has made a huge impact to my life, and I found, and was made part of, a group that was supportive, full of laughter and fun, where I discovered friendship, camaraderie, support, help and encouragement. Given the difference The Shed has made to my quality of life, Abi decided to undertake the Virtual London Marathon to raise funds for Bromsgrove Men In Sheds. I am so incredibly proud of her for taking on this challenge and I hope that sharing my story will encourage people to support her efforts, but I also hope that it might encourage others to take that step to ‘reconnect’ and perhaps, like me, visit the Shed”.

Abi will be starting her marathon at 9am from the Shed (Unit 1, Metal Ores Industrial Estate 138 Hanbury Road Stoke Prior Bromsgrove B60 4JZ). To cheer Abi on, and to help raise awareness of the Shed, the Bromsgrove Shedders will be holding an ‘Open Day’, inviting members of the community along to find out more about the Shed and what Abi is running for! Whilst Abi is running, the Shedders will also be taking on their own challenge with their ’Ping-Pong-a-Thon’, playing continuous table tennis from the time Abi starts and only stopping when she crosses her finishing line back at the Shed!

The Shedders are really grateful to Abi for what she is doing to support the Shed (to sponsor her, please visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AbigailSwarbrick) and hope that as many people that can will be able to come along to the Shed on the 3rd!

For more information please contact Jo Hughes at Age UK BRWF (01527 868855/ Jo.Hughes@ageukbrwf.org.uk).