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Wisbech Cadet’s Inspirational fundraising

Wisbech Cadet’s Inspirational fundraising

3 November 2021

  • Cambridgeshire ACF

Cadet Niamh Buddery has made an inspirational start to her cadet career at Wisbech Detachment. Just five months after joining, she is already working towards her Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), volunteering in the community, raising money for charity and enthusiastically involving herself in her Detachment’s activities. In doing so, she exemplifies several of the ACF’s Values and Standards, including Discipline and Selfless Commitment to Others.

During the first lockdown, Cadet Buddery, 16, started running every day, and has continued to do so, determined to keep herself fit. Having decided she wanted to find a structured fitness challenge, she settled on the idea of completing 500,000 steps, through running or walking, throughout November. Looking for a charity to raise money for, she settled on Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, saying; ‘it’s a great cause and they have helped so many people, including saving the life of one of my friends.’ She has made a strong start to her November challenge, already exceeding 85,000 steps on the 3rd November, and raising £230 so far.

Cadet Buddery in uniform and running for her 500,000 steps for Great Ormond Street. Pictures: Doug Stuart

As part of her DofE Silver Award, she has been volunteering 5 hours a week as a young leader at The Fenlands Gymnastics Academy in Wisbech. She is studying for her GCSEs part time at college, and is additionally being home schooled in Level 3 Diplomas in English, Psychology and British Sign Language. She has developed a serious interest in the latter subject and is already 80% fluent, understanding its usefulness and potential to help others. She is active in a variety of sports, including Gymnastics, Ice skating and swimming. She participated in the One Run Global, in which she ran 6 km in 40 minutes.

Cadet Buddery practices gymnastics, Hunstanton, September 2021. Picture; Louise Buddery.

Having joined the ACF in June, she has taken to cadet training with enthusiasm. She says; ‘I love what we do, the parades, the discipline, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. I come home buzzing.’ She is looking forward to future training, especially with regard to physical fitness, weapons handling and obtaining NVQ qualifications. Her determination and drive suggest she will have a great cadet career ahead of her, and she is greatly looking forward to being able to play a future leadership and teaching role at her detachment.

Her Detachment Commander, SSI David Gagen, said; ‘Cadet Buddery is keen as mustard, always has a notebook and pen and actually uses it! Then I find out that the Army Cadets is just one of her many interests, every evening a different activity, and mostly sport related. And now she’s taken on this, to raise money for charity. She sets a great example to others and should be rightfully proud of herself.'

Niamh plans to go onto Peterborough Regional College to study Level 3 Entry to the Uniformed Services, and is looking forward to a career as a Police Officer.

Her fundraising page is: https://www.facebook.com/donat...

Text by PI Doug Stuart

This story featured in The Fenland Citizen https://www.fenlandcitizen.co....

and the Cambs Times https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/n...