Young Alba, 6, steps out for Samaritans to 'help people who are sad'

Six-year-old Alba Stogden from Nevison put on her walking boots over the course of March to rack up 310,000 steps to raise money for emotional support charity, Samaritans.
By Olivia Hale
Published 1st Apr 2021, 16:45 GMT
Updated 1st Apr 2021, 18:03 GMT
As well as going above and beyond her target, she’s raised over £3,300 for the charity, which, in Alba’s words, "help people who are sad."As well as going above and beyond her target, she’s raised over £3,300 for the charity, which, in Alba’s words, "help people who are sad."
As well as going above and beyond her target, she’s raised over £3,300 for the charity, which, in Alba’s words, "help people who are sad."

As well as going above and beyond her target, she’s raised over £3,300 for the charity, which, in Alba’s words, "help people who are sad."

And as a thank you to the community for supporting her cause, she set up two Easter egg hunts for the Pontefract residents with the help of her mum, Sophie.

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Sophie said: “It was crazy. Both Easter egg hunts were beyond popular - there were way over 150 kids who went home with an egg.

Bunting around Valley Gardens, PontefractBunting around Valley Gardens, Pontefract
Bunting around Valley Gardens, Pontefract

“We decided to set one up in Nevison, for our little community and one in the Valley Gardens for the wider community who’s been so supportive of Alba.

“So it was a really busy day for Alba, she’s had a lot of fun taking people around, showing them how the egg hunt would work and making new friends - it’s given her that bit of normality.

“Overall it was a massive success, everyone was really good when it came to social distancing and all the kids had a great day out.”

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Any issues surrounding mental health are far from taboo in the Stogden household, Sophie says.

Alba, who struggles with bouts of anxiety herself, understands that Samaritans do a lot to help people in need of emotional support - including her own father.

It’s Alba’s understanding of the charity that she’s managed to raise over £3,000 for the charity, which equates to 600 suicide prevention phone calls.

And on the day of the Easter egg hunt, a member of staff from Samaritans came to speak to Alba to thank her for her hard work.

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Sophie said: “It was nice to see children asking questions to the lady who came from Samaritans on the day.

“And obviously it’s important to be careful how word things sensitively, but Alba helped to explain that Samaritans ‘help people who are sad.’

“They were all so interested in asking about what Alba’s funds are going to go towards, as well as having a good time on the Easter egg hunt.

“There’s cash donations that need to be counted up too, we’re just blown away with how the community has supported her journey.”

There's still time to donate to Alba's cause, click here to contribute

Related topics:Pontefract