Army Cadet’s half a million steps for Great Ormond Street

Teenager Niamh Buddery has made an inspirational start to her Army cadet training at Wisbech Detachment.

Just five months after joining, the 16-year-old is already working towards her Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,

volunteering in the community, and enthusiastically involving herself in her local cadet detachment’s activities.

Army cadets are encouraged to keep fit and to help others, values which Niamh has taken to heart by starting a 500,000 step challenge to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

During the first lockdown, Niamh started running every day, and has continued to do so, determined to keep herself fit. Having decided she wanted to find a new 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, and said: "It’s a great cause and they have helped so many people, including saving the life of a friend."

She has made a strong start to her November challenge, already exceeding 90,000 steps and raising £250.

As part of her DofE Silver Award, she has been volunteering five hours a week as a young leader at The Fenland 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 per cent fluent. 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.

Having joined the Army Cadets in June, she has taken to cadet training with enthusiasm. She said: "I love what we do, the parades, the discipline, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. I come home buzzing."

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.

Wisbech Detachment Commander, Staff Sergeant David Gagen, said: "Cadet Buddery is as keen as mustard.

"The Army Cadets is just one of her many interests, every evening she takes part in a different activity, mostly sport related. And now she’s taken on this challenge, to raise money for charity. She sets a great example to others and should be rightfully proud of herself."