To sponsor Chris please visit his Virgin money giving site: 
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/chrishayden

Chris’s Story

Chris, aged 24, had been in trouble with the police in his early teens. He came to Kids Company aged 17 and things began to change:

“When I came to Kids Company I had no sense of direction. They showed me there’s another road I could take apart from street life. They showed me care and support and helped make things happen for me with their positive attitude. They showed me there’s more to life than just the road. It’s a big world out there!”

Later he joined our over 16s educational academy and gained support from one of our keyworkers:

“They gave me support in my first year in College, with English and Maths, and computers to do my assignments on. Finishing college in April will be a huge achievement for me. Without Kids Company, who knows where I’d be now.”

This April, Chris will be supporting Kids Company by running the London Marathon for the first time:

“I remember when I was 13 years old, seeing the runners go past my children’s home and thinking – I’m going to do that one day. This year I get to achieve that goal.”

“It’s a bit scary but exciting at the same time. I’m looking forward to the training which I’m doing with Kids Company staff.”

“On completing the marathon I’ll be feeling good about myself, I can tick off one of my life goals – and what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger!”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6999117.ece

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/torture+brothers+will+lessons+be+learned/3512437

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/11/blue-cameron-skin-parenting-colours

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2791341/Coldplay-raise-250k-in-eBay-sale.html

Saturday 15 May 2010, West Sussex

This family walk offers enthusiastic walkers the chance to experience a breathtaking walk in the picturesque West Sussex countryside. Distances range from 10K to 60K. Refreshments are provided at the start and finish with rest stops along the way and full medical support.

Registration fees range from £15 – £65, suggested sponsorship

target dependent on the distance chosen.

Just Walk 60K Team Challenge

Saturday 15 May, 2010, West Sussex

Teams of between three and six people can compete to for a chance to win the Just Walk Team Challenge Cup. The winners will be decided by two things; the quickest team to cross the finish line and who scores best in the mini challenges we give you to complete out on the route.

Superhero’s 5K Run

Sunday 13 June 2010, Regents Park, London

You are all superheroes to us, and now is your chance to prove it! Join over 5,000 people expected to take part in this event and not only will you be raising money for Kids Company and you get to dress up! If you can’t (or don’t want to) supply your own costume, don’t worry the organisers will provide outfits for you (and yes you get to keep them!) This is a fun run for all the family, you can run, walk, jog, bring the  dog, you decide!

Registration fee £20.00

Suggested sponsorship target: £100.00

Mazda London Triathlon

Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August 2010, London

Stepping it up a gear for 2010, join Kids Company at the Mazda London Triathlon. Combining swimming, cycling and running all in one day at the Royal Victoria Dock in London, this is an incredible spectacle, let alone challenge, with over 8,000 entrants! Whether you want to do the Sprint or full Olympic distances, take part as an individual, or with a couple of friends in the team challenge, come and join the Kids Company team.

Triathlon Details

• Super Sprint Distance – 400m swim / 10km bike / 2.5km run

• Sprint Distance – 750m / 20km / 5km

• Olympic Distance – 1500m / 40km / 10km

To share the challenge, why not join up with friends or colleagues for the Sprint and Olympic distance? Each competitor can choose their part of the race, be it a swim, a cycle or the final sprint.

Registration fee: £25.00 (per person)

Suggested sponsorship targets for: Individuals £575.00

Teams £600.00

Just Bike 2010

Saturday 18th September 2010, Swindon

Starting at the Coate Water Country Park in Swindon, Wiltshire, explore the picturesque villages, ancient tracks and rolling down downlands. There are a variety of distances; 30, 50 or the BIG 100 km.

Registration fees and sponsorship levels to be confirmed.

Royal Parks Half Marathon

Sunday 10 October 2010, London

Join us at the wonderful Royal Parks Half Marathon. A beautiful course, running through some of London’s finest havens, it takes in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park, Blackfriars Bridge, St. James’s Park, passing the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace finishing in Hyde Park. A beautiful course, running through some of London’s finest havens.

Registration fee: £50.00

Suggested sponsorship target: £300.00

5K Santa Run 2010

December 2010, Greenwich Park, London

Join a huge group of Santas running through Greenwich Park Santa suits are handed out on the day and running through Greenwich Park on a crisp winter’s morning is a delight! No previous experience is required for this event and with a bit of training the 5km distance should easily be within your capabilities. The spirit of the event is ‘taking part’ not ‘winning’ so you can run, jog or walk.

Registration fee: £20.00

Suggested : £100.00

Ultra Marathons

For those of you to whom a marathon is just not challenge enough, who want to explore the boundaries of what’s possible and push yourself to the absolute limit… and then keep pushing. Well there is only one thing for you to do… take part in one of the toughest ultra marathons, running 126 km in some of the most extreme environments in the world in 24 hours. Are you up to it? The marathons and 24 hour ultra marathons with places available are:

Namibia Marathon and 24 hour Ultra Marathon:

24 – 31 May 2010 or 23 – 30 May 2011

Iceland Laugavegur Ultra Marathon:

15 – 19 July 2010 or 14 – 18 July 2011

Grand Canyon Marathon and 24 Hour Ultra Marathon:

19 – 26 September 2010 or 18 – 25 September 2011

For detailed information from the organisers, please visit their website at: http://www.acrossthedivide.com/

All our overseas challenges are lead by John Howie from the Territorial Army who has more than 30 years of guiding experience. Each promises to be an unforgettable experience which will leave you with a huge sense of personal achievement due to the physical demands of the challenge and the emotional rewards of knowing that your success will benefit the children of Kids Company.

For more information please contact chloe@kidsco.org.uk.

Online raffle site Rogavi.com are raffling an extremely rare Mini BAC M-30 in aid of Kids Company! In celebration of the Mini’s 30th anniversary in 1989, the British Automotive Co. decided to create the ultimate Mini. The result was the M-30 Special… Edition, of which there are only three in existence.

The original asking price of the BAC M-30 was a staggering £30,000, and this one was owned by Bernie Ecclestone himself, so at £2.50 a ticket it’s definitely worth having a go.

To buy a ticket, go to: www.rogavi.com.

Draw date: 3pm on 24th December 2009.

The perfect way to wind down after a hectic Christmas and New Year. Come and join us at Southwark Cathedral! The performance will be given by a collection of five talented American choirs, combining over 100
voices, accompanied by a celebrated American youth orchestra.

Eric Dale Knapp is a dynamic conductor whose energy and commitment empower the musicians he leads to give performances that stir the souls of his audiences. Mr Knapp has enjoyed success in music education at all levels, church music, collegiate teaching and with professional choral and orchestral organisations. He has conducted at distinctive concert halls worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Dvorak Hall and Vienna’s famed Musikverein.

Participating choirs and orchestra:
~ Viterbo University Concert Choir – director Jean Saladino
~ Kantorei, Appleton West H.S. Choir – director Kevin Meidl
~ Delaware State University Choir – director Dr Curtis Powell
~ West Des Moines UMC Choir
~ First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir – director Dr David Lamb
~ Council Rock North High School Orchestra – director Richard Bogle

Tickets are £7.50 for adults and free for children under 12 years. To purchase a ticket in advance please visit: www.justgiving.com. Tickets will also be available on the door subject to availability. For more information, please email Suzie Curran.

Choice FM’s community work has won industry awards as well as recognition from key political figures such as MP Dawn Butler, former home secretary Jacqui Smith and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This will be the first time that Choice FM has supported a charity over the festive period, and they have chosen Kids Company as a cause which connects with the station’s listenership.

To find out more, go to: www.choice-fm.co.uk