Mother and daughter team up to raise money for new disability hub

The manager of a learning disability service in Bradford has teamed up with her 10-year-old daughter to raise nearly £400 towards building a new Smart Hub which will support people in their day-to-day lives.

Adele Cuvelier, 41, and her 10-year-old daughter Maddie completed a 14-mile walk by a canal-side route from Bingley to Skipton on 8 April to help raise funds for the service where Ms Cuvelier works as hub leader and supports people with learning disabilities. This service is run by the national charity Hft.

Ms Cuvelier has been working in social care for nearly 20 years and was inspired to take on the challenge by daughter Maddie, who was keen to contribute to a good cause after seeing her mum work hard providing support to vulnerable people during the pandemic.

Maddie said: “My mummy works for Hft and fundraising is something that she is passionate about, so I wanted to help. I wanted to do a fundraising walk with my mum and help raise money and I thought it would be nice to be able to do something fun together. I’m really proud of what I achieved. We had a good day together – during the end I did find it more challenging but it was worth it and I can’t believe I raised all that money!”

Five and a half hours later, despite having to contend with some rainy weather, the duo finished their 14-mile trek and returned home to celebrate with a hot bath and a takeaway.

’We’re impressed by the tenacity Maddie has shown by walking the longest distance’

Hft’s family carer support service is a free national support service for parent carers and family carers who have a relative aged 16 or over with a learning disability, autism or both. HfT supports more than 2,500 people nationally to live with independence and choice. This can range from supported living at home, to day opportunities.

All funds raised by Ms Cuvelier and Maddie’s challenge will go towards raising £10,000 in total to build the Smart Hub for people with learning disabilities in Bradford. The new hub is set to be used to support people with learning disabilities in their day-to-day activities and help them engage with their environment.

Among the ideas in the pipeline are talking tiles, which use pictures to enable verbal words to be communicated, allowing people with complex needs to understand and communicate their choices and feelings to others around them.

Emma Macdonald, sports and challenge events fundraising manager at Hft, said: “Generosity clearly runs in the family for Maddie and Adele, who have made an amazing contribution to our Smart Hub fundraiser.

“Not only has Adele provided vital support to the people with learning disabilities over the course of an extremely challenging year, but she is going above and beyond in her own time to raise the funds needed to support them to access even more opportunities. We’re also so impressed by the tenacity Maddie has shown by walking the longest distance she’s ever travelled, all to raise funds for Hft. They are both superstars.”

Hoping to raise the full amount, various challenges will be taking place over the coming months, including a 50-mile coast to coast trek in July, which Ms Cuvelier is also taking part in, alongside some of her Hft co-workers.

To donate to Adele and Maddie’s fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/maddie-and-adeles-fundraising-adventure