Challengers celebrate 35th birthday
Nicki Ackerley (second from left) with TV presenter Matthew Kelly and actress Sally Phillips (pictured third and fourth from left)
Guildford based disabled children’s charity Challengers have celebrated their 35th anniversary. The Editor of the Guildford Magazine, Nikki Ackerley, wishes them a Happy Birthday!
A landmark event took place recently with the 35th birthday of disabled children’s charity Challengers and opening of their new play and leisure centre in Guildford’s Stoke Park.
I was honoured to play ‘minder’ to their celebrity supporters TV presenter Matthew Kelly and actress Sally Phillips (pictured third and fourth from left).
Author Ken Follett led the rousing chorus of Happy Birthday as a flurry of orange balloons were released. Paraolympian winner Rachel Morris, who had toured the centre during its build, was also there to see the finished result.
It’s a fantastic resource that makes a big difference to the families it supports. While they may have a new centre, they always need funds, so please continue to give.
About Challengers:
Challengers is a registered children's charity, established in 1979, dedicated to providing exciting and challenging play and leisure opportunities for disabled children and young people. They do this through their play and youth centres in Guilford and Farnham and through a range of community based projects across Surrey and, increasingly, the surrounding areas.
They support any child or young person with any impairment through Play (age 2 - 13), Youth (age 13 - 18) and Young Adult schemes (18-25). Their facilities are also open to families, special schools, hospitals, children's homes and other organisations.