Leeds United Foundation coach Sophie Dales took on a special fundraising challenge during October to help support the local care homes the club's official charity currently work with.

The Health and Wellbeing Activator kicked off the challenge on Wednesday 1st October, which also marked International Day for Older Persons - a day that celebrates the role older adults play in our communities, setting herself a target of running and walking 11k for 24 days during the month.

There are 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK that are diagnosed with dementia which helped her choose the distance, with the 24 days representing the total number of care homes the club's official charity are currently supporting in and around Leeds.

The Leeds United Foundation’s Health and Wellbeing department deliver a variety of sessions tailored to the older adult community, some of these are in local care homes whilst other programmes are hosted at Elland Road every week.

After finishing the challenge, Sophie said: "The aim was for me to not only raise awareness around some of the statistics in terms of older people and dementia but to also raise some funds that could hopefully go towards buying each care home we work with an activity bag with various pieces of equipment for the sessions that we deliver.

"Fingers crossed we can make that happen, and with any extra monies raised we can provide care home staff with some care packages to help recognise the incredible and tireless job they do everyday!"

If you would like to contribute to the fundraiser, please click HERE.