Deaf Cardiff resident Shannon Evans cycled 100 miles to raise funds for the National Deaf Children’s Society throughout October. Supported by her parents, Shannon achieved the distance by cycling around Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Shannon had originally planning to take on the Cardiff Bay 10K run, with a fundraising target of £100-150, but the event was cancelled due to Covid-19. Undeterred, Shannon decided to cycle 100 miles instead – and in the process raised £1,370 for the charity’s vital work, smashing her fundraising goal.
Shannon was inspired to support the National Deaf Children’s Society because she has moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and wears hearing aids. Her family received support from the charity during her childhood. She explained that she faced many barriers as a child, but that the charity helped her to succeed and she is now studying Sports and Exercise Sciences at the University of South Wales.
Shannon commented:
“The National Deaf Children’s Society is close to my heart. I am hard of hearing and have worn two hearing aids since the age of three. Growing up of hard of hearing was so difficult and I had to battle many barriers.
“I chose the National Deaf Children’s Society because I wanted to return the favour after all the help you gave me throughout my school years and now university. It was tough but I kept saying to myself, ‘don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits’ and that’s what pulled me through.”
Claire Lubbock, of the National Deaf Children’s Society’s fundraising team, added:
“I want to say a huge thank you to Shannon for taking on this incredible fundraising challenge for the National Deaf Children’s Society and not letting the cancellation of your original plan deter you. You’re a hero!
“It’s through wonderful efforts like this that we are able to keep on doing what we do, supporting the 50,000 deaf children and their families across the UK, now and into the future.”
