Next up from our Artz Enterprise Project, is a small girl with BIG ideas.
Meet Kiki, one of our brilliant Artz Centre Junior students, who, during lockdown, wanted to challenge herself to do something to support the place she loves most.
This is when Kiki came up with the idea for a sponsored “climb”; a journey to the very top of the Blackpool Tower to be precise (that’s a height of 158.1m, and 563 steps!). However, with the coronavirus pandemic closing a vast percentage of our local tourist attractions, Kiki endeavoured to climb this distance using not the steps in the Blackpool Tower, but the stairs in her HOUSE. Amazing. What a creative idea!
So, at 9am last Wednesday, Kiki set out on her challenge. The gutsy 9 year old completed 69 laps of her staircase, and raised an amazing £360 for the Artz Centre in the process. Only later did we discover that she also completed the challenge with a potentially broken wrist, after a medical check, thankfully it’s just a bad sprain – but what a trooper all the same!
I caught up with Kiki to see how she found the whole challenge…
Claire: Hey Kiki! We are so proud of you! How do you feel now the challenge is done?
Kiki: Now my challenge is done I feel relieved. I did it! And I didn’t let anyone down!
Claire: You certainly didn’t let anyone down. What an achievement! So what gave you the idea to climb your stairs to the height of the Blackpool tower? It has to be one of the most unique ideas we’ve seen!
Kiki: Me and my Mum were just looking up fundraising ideas. We really wanted to help the Artz Centre to say thank you, and we came across this! It seemed like a really fun challenge.
Claire: And how long did the challenge take you? I wonder if climbing the actual Blackpool tower would have taken you more or less time…
Kiki: It took me just under an hour, and of course climbing the actual Blackpool Tower would be much quicker – they have lifts!
Claire: Nooo, you would have to use the steps! Ha ha. So what made you want to raise money for the Artz Centre in particular?
Kiki: Well the Artz Centre is closed at the moment, and I wanted to raise money to help during this time because I really, really like going there and it would be such a shame if it had to close forever.
Claire: Well, we appreciate your efforts so very much, Kiki! Can you sum up your experience in one word for me?
Kiki: Tiring!!!
Claire: I bet it was! Now then, at the Artz Centre we all definitely think that “Kiki Climbs” should return for lots more challenges. What do you think?
Kiki: I would love to climb the height of something else – but I haven’t decided what, yet!
Another outstanding youngster from our local community, stepping up to contribute and to help support a place that she loves, during these difficult times. Kiki, you can now put your feet up – and feel very proud of yourself!
#ArtzEnterprise #ArtzFamily #KikiClimbs #SponsoredClimb #BlackpoolTower
