A young girl who’s raised over £6,000 for charity by running every week come rain or shine has been recognised with an award.
Nine-year-old Grace Jenkins, has run 5k every single Sunday for a year-and-a-half to raise money for the NHS during the Covid pandemic.
The youngster from Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, decided to raise money to help all those suffering as a result of Covid and began by just running laps in her street to the applause of her neighbours and family.
But her fundraising didn’t stop there. After raising more than £4,000 in two years, Grace decided to pick up her running shoes again and raise money for the people of Ukraine.
Now the youngster, nicknamed “Little Miss Running Shoes”, has raised an amazing £2,000 for UNICEF to help the children of Ukraine.
Her fundraising efforts, selfless and caring attitude have now led to her being awarded the Young Inspiration Award, presented as part of the Live Our Best Life Awards 2022.
Grace said: “I go running every week and run 5k as it’s something I really enjoy.
“I get to choose the route and sometimes me and my dad even stop at different places just as something to look forward to at the end.
“But I once did a run and got a medal and I really enjoyed it and somebody asked my mum if I had a fundraising page and we didn’t so we decided to set one up and began to raise money for the NHS for Covid.
“Lots of my friends got covid and I felt quite bad for them and I saw it all on the news so I decided to start running to raise money and I ended up running for about a year-and-a-half every week.
“I really enjoy it a lot and my friends at school mention it a lot so it’s very embarrassing sometimes but I don’t really mind too much.
“After watching the news I wanted to try and raise money for Ukraine and also I have an online friend who lives there and I felt really bad for her so I decided to start running again to help raise money to help buy lots of things they need.
“So far since February I have raised nearly £2,000.
“I’ve already reached my target but I want to try and increase it even more.”
For Grace’s mum, Emma, seeing her daughter work so hard and selflessly to raise money for charity and other people inspired her to send in a nomination form.
Emma, 42, said: “She’s my unsung hero and we’re just so proud of her.
“She likes to please people and tries to make a difference in the world.
“I was tagged in the nomination on the day it was closing and obviously knowing Grace and knowing that she’s doing so much good for other causes for nothing in return but I didn’t think for a minute that she would actually be chosen let alone win the category but here we are.
“It all started off as sibling rivalry as there was a 5k challenge at the very start of lockdown when people couldn’t go out and had the daily exercise.
“Her sister at the time who was 20, had done it and Grace said I’m going to beat that time she was only seven-years-old at the time and she actually did beat her time by 10 minutes – so it was a bit of comedy within the family.
“That’s where she found her love of running.
“Then it was every week and it became a bit of a community event and we had a Whatsapp page and she would run loops in the street so all the neighbours would come out and clap and cheer her on.
“It was one of the neighbours who asked if we had a JustGiving page and at the time it hadn’t crossed our minds, but we chose NHS heroes as I worked for the NHS for 21 years, so it was a charity
close to my heart as we had lost a few members of staff and then it really grew from there on.”
Although Grace is raising thousands of pounds for charity her family also wanted her to have a keepsake for all her hard work so for each 5k run she completes she’s given a medal which now take pride of place on the bottom of her bed.
Emma added: “Seeing the war in Ukraine unfold it was just so sad to see people fleeing from their homes and Grace had had a bit of a break from raising money and she saw it on the news and she’s also got a friend online and she was concerned.
“She began to get a few messages from her friend saying they were having to move and pack up and obviously Grace was concerned and worried.
“She knew Ukraine needed it and could see the children and she was heartbroken so here we are again with her trainers on.
“I am unbelievably proud of her and she’s actually got a nickname now of Little Miss Running Legs.
“It’s exactly what it says on the tin – she’s teeny tiny for her age but I couldn’t do 5k so I’m constantly in awe at her and her selflessness.
“It’s something she loves doing, it’s not something she’s forced to do it’s just what she really enjoys – she’s amazing she’s my little hero.”
The awards launched last year by Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach worker, Romel Davis are the perfect opportunity to shine a light on inspirational and amazing young people.
Romel said: “Grace is only nine-years-old and to sit and listen to her talk and hear about all of the fantastic runs she plans to raise money for people she doesn’t even know is so heart-warming.
“To know she was only 7-years-old when she started to raise money to support the NHS through the Covid pandemic and was running 5ks is truly amazing.
“At such a young age to have raised thousands of pounds for the NHS and UNICEF is incredible and shows how selfless she is.
“Grace is our youngest ever winner and I am so pleased she’s won the young inspiration award as she truly deserves it.
“It takes a truly inspirational and amazing person to do what she’s doing and has done over the last few years and I can’t wait to hear about her fundraising efforts as she gets older – she is a truly inspirational young person.”
