Compassion Challenges team sponsor second child in honour of Katie Rough

The family and friends of seven-year-old Katie Rough, who tragically died in January, will participate in The Great North Run this September in honour of her memory.

“Team Rough” from York will run the 13.1 mile half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields on 10 September to pay tribute to Katie and raise funds for Compassion.

The group have already exceeded their fundraising target of £3,000 enabling them to sponsor a girl the same age as Katie. These funds will ensure seven-year-old Pross from Uganda will have access to an education, nutritional support and medical care into adulthood. They are now sponsoring a second child also from Uganda, seven-year-old King.

The Roughs chose to help children from Uganda as it was the home country of the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, who has developed a strong bond with the family and supported them throughout the tragedy.

“We want to honour Katie and leave an amazing legacy in her name. If we can help another child or children overcome poverty and adversity, at least some good will come out of our loss.

“We as a family want to pay tribute to our amazing daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and cousin. Katie was a much loved, treasured member of our family and her loss has left a massive void.

“Katie was such a special person, kind, loving and generous and we want her memory to live on so that others all around the world will know about her and hear how she continues to inspire and change lives,” shares team Rough.

The team is made up of Katie’s dad Paul, sister Bethany, Aunty Sarah, Uncles Pete and Steve and friend of the family, Téba. They will also be fundraising for two other children’s charities close to their heart, Get Kids Going and Children North East.

You can follow and support them using the hashtag #TeamRough or make a donation. 

From all of us at Compassion UK, our thoughts and prayers are with Team Rough.