Britain's Most Inspiring Fundraiser Nominee
Finalist - Adam Chataway
Nominated by: Freya Paleit, who works for ActionAid
Charity:ActionAid
Reason for nomination:
"Adam is Britain's Most Inspiring Fundraiser because in the face of his worst nightmare he focused on those less well off. He organised over 200 friends and inspired them to turn Vicky's tragedy into a new life for over 200,000 Ethiopians who had to walk hours to collect water."
Actions:
On October 17, 2006 Victoria Buchanan, 28, was tragically killed while cycling to work at Chelsea Football Club. Over the following 12 months, her fiancé Adam Chataway, 29, raised over half a million pounds in her memory.
As a student, Vicky spent a month helping to construct a vast water supply project with charity ActionAid in Dalocha, Ethiopia. Following Vicky's death, Adam, son of world record-breaking athlete and ex-government minister, Sir Christopher Chataway, asked ActionAid to replicate that work in Lera Town, Ethiopia by bringing clean water to 20,000 people. Vicky's Water Project was born.
The £10.88 Vicky was carrying when she was killed were its first funds.
Adam and Vicky met at Newcastle and were keen runners. He challenged 200 friends to run in Newcastle's Great North Run as 'Team VWP'. Inspired by Adam, Team VWP came up with creative fundraisers: a football tournament, cricket match, casino night, a golden mile with Sir Roger Banister, an auction with Gary Lineker, support from Chelsea FC and England captain John Terry.
Adam travelled to Ethiopia to meet people at the project and persuaded Ethiopian athletic legend Haile Gebrselassie to lend his support (dedicated marathon world record to VWP - broken on the same day). Adam returned to the UK determined to do even more. Motivated by Adam, team VWP raised an extraordinary £519,000, far above anyone's expectations. Adam's efforts and Vicky's story has touched so many, even inspiring schools to fundraise.
Vicky's legacy is the gift of life. www.vickyswaterproject.com.
