Nine-year-old, Delilah Reynolds, has raised more than £310 for St Elizabeth Hospice after completing her unique hula hoop challenge as part of the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022.
The Ipswich schoolgirl beat her fundraising target of £250, with donations still coming in, as she ‘hula-hooted’ for at least ten seconds beside each of the 50 owl statues making up this year’s Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, the third art trail brought to Ipswich by St Elizabeth Hospice in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art.
Beginning in July, and taking place throughout the school summer holidays, Delilah completed her challenge in phases with Delilah initially aiming to raise 50p for every second of successful, consecutive hula-hooping, with her Dad, Ken Reynolds, pledging to release a video himself hula-hooping if she reached her £250 target.
Delilah said: “I feel really happy because I raised money to help people at the hospice. I felt a bit sad when it was all over because I had so much fun, I got better at hula-hooping and saw all of the owls at the same time.
“It was really funny when Dad tried to hula-hoop, the camera is a bit shaky because I was laughing when I filmed him. Thank you to everyone that has donated and supported me through the summer.”
Delilah was inspired to raise funds for the hospice, through the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, after seeing her Dad, working on the art trail as part of his role as marketing coordinator at St Elizabeth Hospice.
Now she has reached and gone past her target of £250, Ken has uploaded his hula-hooping video for all to see and enjoy, which also features bloopers from the full challenge – www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7JcfOGwR9o
Ken added: “I’m always proud of Delilah, but it has been very pleasing to help her with this fundraising effort through the summer. We got out, got active and visited all of the Big Hoots in a unique way that I think we will always remember. Delilah cares about helping others and it is nice that I’m able to share that aspect of my work with her.
“Thank you to everyone who has donated. I have posted the video of my own efforts to hula-hoop in the hope that a little embarrassment on my part might inspire a few more donations! I think it’s safe to say I have not discovered a new talent.”
There is still time to donate towards Delilah’s ‘hula-hoot’ challenge by visiting: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hula-hooting.
As part of the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, 50 ornately decorated owl sculptures, featuring a range of designs have made their nests throughout Ipswich. These will be available for everyone to view and enjoy between 19th June and 3rd September, as part of the biggest free art event in Suffolk which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town.
For more information about the Big Hoot 2022 go to thebighoot.co.uk.