Giving up the ciggies helps the PIers Simon Appeal

ONE man's desire to quit smoking has led to funds for the Piers Simon Appeal charity being boosted by £625 in sponsorship.

The Ilminster Lions Club and Adam Chudley, of Ilton-based firm Chudley International, sponsored Steve Sowden a total of £625 to go a whole year without smoking.

Steve, 41, of Yeovil, gave up the dreaded weed on January 10, 2012, and it was a couple of days later when the Lions approached him about sponsoring him £1 for every day he stayed off cigarettes up to year with the money going to a charity of his choice.

Steve had no hesitation in naming the PSA and its School in a Bag initiative as his chosen charity. The PSA was formed following the death of former and Preston School and Yeovil College student Piers Simon in the Asian tsunami of 2004.

"Piers was in the same year group as me at Preston and I've been a big supporter of the PSA ever since it was formed," he said.

"The sponsorship from Ilminster Lions made me even more determined to quit smoking and I'm chuffed that I've done it."

PHOTO: Steve Sowden, right, along with, from left, Henry Simon of the Piers Simon Appeal, Lions District Governor Julian Chadwick and Ilminster Lions president Peter Marshall.

The PSA's School in a Bag initiative provides a rucksack full of stationery, learning resources and eating utensils for poor, orphan, vulnerable and disaster-affected children around the world.

Steve was taken aback, however, when the Lions upped their initial sponsorship from £366 - 2012 was a Leap Year - to a wonderful £500.

"I can't thank the Lions enough," he said.

Steve has also been backed by Adam Chudley  in his stop-smoking campaign with sponsorship of £125, enabling him to raise £625 – enough for 41 school bags.

PSA charity liaison officer Luke Simon said: "We would like to thank Steve for his tremendous effort in not only giving up smoking but also supporting us – and we’d obviously like to thank Ilminster Lions and Adam Chudley for their sponsorship.

"The contents of a School Bag enable children to write, draw, colour, calculate, express themselves, eat, drink and, above all, learn. A School Bag is their passport to a better future."

The bags funded by Steve’s sponsors are currently in storage awaiting transportation to Kenya, although they could be redirected to schools in The Gambia.

Adam Chudley has added his £125 pledge to his own PSA fundraising when he runs the Taunton Half Marathon on April 7.

For more information on the PSA click on this link here - www.pierssimonappeal.org - or click on their advert which can be found on the homepage of the Yeovil Press website.

Tags:
News.