A SAINTFIELD mum is throwing her weight behind a gruelling event to raise money for charity.
Leah McCourt, a champion mixed martial arts fighter, is undergoing a test of strength and endurance challenge for Christian Aid, which is responding to the coronavirus crisis in some of the poorest countries in the world.
Over five days, 27-year-old Leah will be attempt to complete 10,000 exercises carrying a weighted bag used by combat athletes to build strength.
Starting on Monday, Leah will complete the daunting daily task of 2,000 squats and lunges while carrying on her shoulders the crescent-shaped ‘Bulgarian bag’ filled with 15 kilos of sand and wool. Each daily session is likely to take up to three hours to complete.
Leah is a professional MMA fighter and earlier this year she headlined a prestigious event in Dublin
Her fundraiser is in response to Christian Aid’s appeal to people to raise money by taking part in sponsored stay-at-home challenges as part of Christian Aid Week which runs from May 10-17.
Examples include completing 1,000 star jumps in the living room, a half marathon in the back garden, or the equivalent of a mountain climb by walking up and down the stairs.
Leah is urging others to follow her example. “The current crisis has left many people feeling helpless,” she said.
“However, it is still possible to do something positive and help others during the lockdown.
“Exercise is important for our physical and mental health, but it also lifts your spirits knowing you are raising funds to support a good cause.”
As the pandemic passes its peak in the developed world, the aid agency hopes that Leah’s endorsement will raise funds vital to slowing the spread of the virus in developing countries where there are few, if any, ventilators and ICU beds.
Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett thanked Leah for her support.
“Leah is a true champion and I hope she inspires others to take up the challenge,” she said.
“Christian Aid works in some of the poorest countries in the world, and coronavirus cases have been reported in every one of them. We know the impact the virus has had here but poor countries don’t have enough doctors and nurses and very few, if any ventilators or ICU beds.
“People won’t get the treatment they need if they do fall ill, so it’s vital we do all we can to help make sure people protect themselves from coronavirus and help prevent the spread of the disease.”
In order to carry out its work, the charity relies heavily on the donations it receives each during Christian Aid Week.
The majority of these donations come from door-to-door and annual church service collections, neither of which is possible because of current restrictions.
Christian Aid tackles the root causes of poverty around the world and is currently responding to the coronavirus crisis in nearly 20 countries by helping to raise awareness of the importance of regular hand washing and physical distancing to prevent the spread of the disease, as well as distributing soap and improving access to water.
To support Leah’s sponsored stay-at-home challenge, visit her Justgiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/christianaid-leah-mccourt.
To sign up for Christian Aid’s Active Aid campaign, visit www.caid.ie/activeaid.