8-year old Freddie raises over £600 with birthday fundraiser

“Running is a joy and I’m happy because I’ve helped other people,” says Freddie Harding after celebrating his 8th birthday where he raised an amazing £620 for the Personal Best Foundation.

While there may have been all the usual cards, games, and food you’d expect on such a day, there were definitely no presents as instead Freddie had asked all his friends and family to make donations to the Foundation rather than give him gifts.

Freddie’s love of running made the Personal Best Foundation the obvious choice as he wants to help other young people, so he set up an online fundraising page and shared the link with family and friends. And from there it’s been a real tale of success. Hoping for £200, he upped his total to £400 before finishing with a whopping £620 (and an additional £100 in Gift Aid). And even better, it also means Freddie has now officially become the charity’s first fundraiser, not to mention youngest.

“I’m a doctor and I am very aware how running can help a child’s physical and mental health."

As a family, we’re delighted that Freddie has chosen to support the Personal Best Foundation! We wish you all the very best in growing your charity from strength to strength!” said mum Jo

An early start

Freddie has always loved running. Initially, it was to run after his two older sisters, Emily, and Lauren, but then slowly he has become more focused on running for running’s sake. He’s put in endless drills in the garden, asking us his mum and dad to time him, always trying to beat his previous time. He even got his dad back into doing press-ups (they increased by one every day!) and as his fundraising birthday bash so superbly demonstrates, really self-motivated.

From training to track

From training in the garden, it was then a matter of joining a club, and fortunately for Freddie, the Head of Sport at his school, is Jack Hallas who represented England as a schoolboy in cross country, won the England Athletics U23 Championships (800m) in 2012 and still runs for his club Newham and Essex Beagles.

“We are incredibly proud of Freddie’s achievements here at The Pointer School. It’s great to see him using athletics to help change the lives of young people.

It’s clear to see that Freddie is so passionate about athletics and through his hard work and determination he has attained such an incredible achievement.”

In his element

So, with everyone excited to see Freddie continue to improve and learn all about athletics, the school put his parents in touch with a group that trains every Saturday morning. “Freddie is in his element when he runs. He gives it his all and wears an extra big smile when he completes a race. He’s found something that gives him lots of pleasure and he plans to keen practicing and keep running to get better and better,” says Jo.

Freddie proudly wears his PBF pin badge on his school uniform.