“I will be pushing myself physically harder than I ever have in my life. But, these 21 challenges will pale in comparison to the feats of bravery & endurance achieved by our armed services each and every day. I’m challenging myself not only in support of my brother, but for all the guys & girls out on the Front Line.”
Benjamin Lambert
Benjamin is no stranger to raising money for a good cause. In the past, the 27 year old business man has raised over £5,000 for charity and worked with numerous organisations all over the world to help make a difference. His latest endevour however, is the most demanding so far. He is currently undertaking twenty one challenges in twenty one months to raise money for Help the Heroes – a charity that he fears his brother & Royal Marine Commando Nicholas Lambert may one day rely upon.
Ben & Nick moved to Yorkshire at an early age and attended Boston Spa Comprehensive School. At the age of 17 Ben was already devoted to fundraising; as the Head of the school’s Charity Committee he was responsible for raising over £3,000 in two years for causes such as Cancer Research UK and Comic Relief. “After seeing first hand just how much difference even small amounts of money can make, I really wanted to try and get the whole school behind our fundraising efforts”. During this period, Ben did not earn his pocket money with a Saturday job at the local ASDA, he instead opted to work at local Children’s Hospice, Martin House.
Ben’s altruistic endevours continued throughout his time at the University of Manchester (2004-2008) studying for a BA in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies. “I needed to spend time in a Spanish speaking country and I decided it was an amazing opportunity to experience how different life is on the other side of the world. I worked with street children in Peru and in a hospital for children with HIV in Guatemala. It changed my way for thinking forever.” It was also during this period that he undertook the famously gruelling trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, in aid of charity.
Now a successful businessman in Manchester, Ben has found a new driving force behind his fundraising efforts. After three years of arduous training, Ben’s younger brother Nick has left for Afghanistan, leaving his fiancée and their two year old son behind in Yorkshire. Ben says of his brother, “Nick and I were always very different. I was academic but he became somewhat disengaged with school and dropped out in the sixth form. He spent a few years with no direction, but when he decided to become a Royal Marine he suddenly became focused and determined. Now, over the past five years I’ve seen him grow into this amazing person; a man to look up to and a brother to be proud of. Knowing that one day Nick or any one of his colleagues, and his friends could be wounded or worse, I want to do my bit and raise as much money as I can for Help for Heroes, to help them in their amazing work.”
It was thus that the [21:21] challenge was born. Not content with taking on a single event to raise significant funds, Ben has pledged to raise £10,000 by undertaking twenty one challenges in twenty one months. But Ben has never been someone to do things by half. In addition to raising money for the charity he wants to increase the awareness of H4H by amassing a following of 10,000 people. “The idea is that even if only 1% of these people are inspired enough to do their bit then, then the project will become even more special.”
Ben comments, “I will be pushing myself physically harder than I ever have in my life. But, these 21 challenges will pale in comparison to the feats of bravery & endurance achieved by our armed services each and every day. The blood, sweat and tears I endure are a small price to pay if I can raise £10,000 to help those affected both physically and emotionally by the horrors of war. Whatever your stance on armed conflict, the men and women who put their lives on the line for the good of our country and others need and deserve our support.”
Help for Heroes [21:21] Challenge
Help for Heroes [21:21] Challenge 