Quadruple fundraising challenges raising £1837 for Club Doncaster Foundation's Fit Forces project

Following on from the success of her double fundraising challenge last year for Club Doncaster Foundation’s Fit Forces project, Teresa Hodgson decided she wanted to fundraise once again, but with a much bigger challenge than before. 

Not two, but four gruelling challenges, over the space of four back to back weekends in July! 

“Everybody who knows me, knows the two challenges I did last year, are what I do for fun. It wasn’t really a challenge for me, I do then half marathon on a Sunday morning for fun!” Teresa said.

“So I wanted to make it more of a challenge for myself this year.”

Teresa started off her fundraiser with a 100mile rowing challenge at the Foundation Fitness gym, which gave Fit Forces participants, veterans and members of the public, the chance to come along to support her and help contribute to her challenge.

On the second weekend, saw her complete a half marathon around the lake, before finishing off outside the gym with a guard of honour from participants who had come along to support her. 

Her penultimate challenge took place within the Yorkshire Dales as Teresa, along with friends, completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge, climbing up all 3 peaks on the 24 mile round trip. 

Rounding off the fourth and final challenge, saw her take part in a Tough Mudder, successfully completing the quadruple challenge she set herself. 

“I’m absolutely delighted. I loved every second of every single one of the challenges I did,” she said.

“What I loved more than anything though, was how it brought so many people together, from the veterans to the fire brigade, South Yorkshire Police. Everyone wanted to get involved with it. That’s what’s made me happy. 

“It was great to have the veterans involved with the rowing challenge. The atmosphere was electric and they really enjoyed it.”

On completion of the quadruple challenge for Fit Forces, Teresa has raised an incredible £1837 for the project, which will help support the sessions and those that attend. 

Speaking of why she did it, she said: “I’m a massive believer in health & wellbeing, I support veterans because I know how important it is for them to come together, have that laugh and social element, alongside their health and fitness.

“If the money raised goes towards supporting them with more sessions or the purchase of more gym passes, that makes me happy.”

One participant, who attends the sessions weekly and was involved in the initial start up of the project, is Blue Thornhill. He spoke of how the money raised will really benefit those who attend and how much the project means to him and fellow veterans too. “It’s absolutely fantastic to have someone make the time and effort to go out off their own back, to raise money for this project. 

“The money raised will help to keep us running, it’ll help make the costs a little bit smaller.

“The sessions are absolutely amazing, it’s not just a gym session, it’s a gathering of all ex military forces, when everyone comes together, the camaraderie, it’s incredible. The friendships, it’s just outstanding. 

“The Fit Forces project means everything to me. It makes my whole week worth living for. I absolutely love it on Saturday’s, it’s my me time. I couldn’t imagine my weekend’s without it now.“

Fit Forces, supported by the People Focused Group, first launched in June 2022 and continues to be a weekly session aimed at ex-military personnel. 

Sessions are held in Foundation Fitness from 9am till 11am every Saturday and give participants the chance to be with likeminded people with similar experiences to themselves.

The sessions aim to provide a safe space for them to feel at ease to access exercise and socialise with group members, taking part in circuits, quizzes, organised activities and NAAFI breaks.

Looking towards next year, Teresa is already planning what challenges she’s going to do. “Someone’s already booked me onto Tough Mudder, I’ve definitely got to do my honorary half marathon. We might even do something significant like the rowing but row from Doncaster to the Falklands, something that’s linked.

"I want to continue to keep supporting this project. It’s changed lives and it’s saved lives. I don’t need to say anything more.”

Want more information on the Fit Forces project? E-mail fitrovers@clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk to find out more. Alternatively, attend the sessions on a Saturday morning at Foundation Fitness, from 9am-11am.