Rob’s Senseless Challenge
1869. Rob Lloyd
Rob Lloyd, from Chester, is a property developer and TV personality who has embarked on 12 months of endurance challenges and raised over £100,000 to support the charity ‘Sense’ with providing improved, specialised disability services in Wales.
Following nine months of chemotherapy for a diagnosis of lymphoma, Rob began his fundraising with the London Marathon in 2019 and the experience inspired him to continue supporting charity in any way he could. After hearing about the life-transforming impact of leisure activities and services run by Sense for a family with complex disabilities, he decided to dedicate himself towards a ‘Senseless Challenge’ to help more families, particularly in Wales. Rob’s challenge has included a marathon around Colwyn Bay, SAS training in the beacons, a six hour ‘Tour de Wales’, and a 500-mile cycling and running tour of all the ‘Sense’ charity shops in Wales, with Rob’s fundraising directly helping the charity open a further 20 stores.
In a personal letter to Rob, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I am lost in admiration for your phenomenal physical challenges which have raised over £100,000 for the charity ‘Sense’. I know you were inspired to help others after your cancer treatment and it is astonishing how you have bounced back from chemotherapy to run marathons, cycle hundreds of miles and even undertake SAS training in Wales!
“The money you have raised has helped open 20 new charity shops for ‘Sense’. This will, in turn, make a huge difference to supporting disabled people and their families.”
Rob said:
“This has come as a complete surprise to me and was totally unexpected. I am thrilled to bits in receiving this coveted award and furthermore I am privileged and pleased to be helping ‘Sense’ raise awareness and much needed funds. ‘Sense’ are an incredible charity and the people who work in the organisation do an amazing job both on the operational side in caring for families, also on the retail side by opening shops in high streets and helping the community and also the sense fundraising team they all work so hard in making a difference.”