Sheffield mermaid’s challenge to help pregnant women battle against coronavirus

Dr Danae Dodge, along with friends and family, is carrying out an indoor Triple 10 Fitness Challenge – lifting 10 kilograms, 10 times for 10 days – to raise money for Child.org, a charity that works in Kenya.

One of its projects is the pregnant women’s group Team Mum, bringing essential information to the mothers’-to-be, such as the importance of vaccination, or that they need to attend post- and pre-natal classes. It says some young mothers do not know this, and it is this information that prevents a high infant mortality rate.

Dr Dodge, who says she is a mermaid ‘in her spare time’, said: “Currently, Child.org can’t bring information on preventing Covid-19 to these mothers as it is unable to run these support groups, which is largely down to a significant loss of income due to event cancellations.

“It is now more important than ever for Child.org to raise money.

“It’s a worrying time for pregnant women as it is. We’re lucky here in Sheffield as the Jessop’s Wing Hospital maternity unit has been wonderful in providing support.

“But just imagine how fearful some of the pregnant women in Kenya must be during this coronavirus crisis.”

Talking about her challenge, Dr Dodge, who completed her PhD in scientific archaeology, specialising in ancient DNA, at The University of Sheffield in 2010, said: “I called it the Triple 10 Challenge because 10kg is the extra weight carried by pregnant women. In Kenya, they would often walk long distances, e.g. 10 miles, to collect resources.”

Taking place from May 18-28, she hopes to raise £3,000. So far, she has raised more than £1,000.

If she reaches her target, then she has something special planned linked to her mermaid hobby.

She said: “If my team raises £3,000 by May, then I will dress up and sing a song from The Little Mermaid.

“This is more for a laugh than anything else. Having said that, this is a great incentive to make sure Child.org gets the money it needs to continue its work.”

Donate via https://child.org/me/danaes-triple-10-challenge​​​​​​​

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