24 charity tasks in 24 hours for Ashley!

A Devon businesswoman is set to take on 24 tasks in 24 hours starting on 24th of September to try and raise £1,000 for the Exeter Foundation.

Swimming in the River Exe, selling the Big Issue in Exeter and serving behind the bar at the Southgate Mercure Exeter Hotel in Southernhay, are amongst challenges facing Ashley Petrons (pictured second left) of Exeter-based public relations and marketing firm Astley Media.

Three of the challenges will be picked from ideas suggested by followers of @Devon_Hour on Twitter, hosted by Ashley for an hour last week, and in doing so, becoming its first guest host. Suggestions included teaming up with an Exeter Chiefs player to learn to drive a forklift truck and doing a sky dive, while prizes were also donated for an online auction that Ashley is running as one of the challenges.

The ’24 in 24’ challenge starts at 9pm on Wednesday September 24.

“It’s going to be manic but I’m ready for it,” said Ashley, who has set up a Just Giving webpage to help the fundraising efforts, http://bit.ly/justgivingAP24

The 28-year-old, Astley Media’s lead associate, said: “I’m always searching out challenges but never this many in such a short space of time. The idea is to try as many different tasks as I dare, go on a bit of an adventure, survive and raise £1000 for the Exeter Foundation.”

Waitressing at Urban Burger on Queen Street and sleeping rough in Exeter are amongst other challenges awaiting Ashley, who lives in Heavitree.

Astley Media is a member of the Foundation XV, raising money for the Exeter Foundation. The Foundation supports regional charities and projects including Nightstop Devon, Hospiscare, Headway Devon, Age UK Exeter, The C Group, Dream-A-Way and Exeter Deaf Academy.

Tony Rowe, OBE, Exeter Foundation chairman, said: “We’re delighted that Ashley is supporting the Exeter Foundation through such an action-packed challenge. We’re really hoping that people get behind what she’s attempting to do and help us raise vital funds for the charities and projects supported by the Foundation.”

Marc Astley, CEO of Astley Media, one of the companies supporting the Exeter Foundation, said: “It is going to be tough, but we’re going to be supporting Ashley along every step of the way, ready to dust her down from one challenge and get her on to the next. ’24 in 24’ is not something that I’d have the stamina or willpower to take on – so fair play to Ashley for an incredible fundraising effort.”

Last year Ashley did 250 different things for charity in 250 days, including abseiling down Battersea Power Station for Cancer Research UK and spending £1 a day for 5 days on food and drink in aid of Oxfam.

Companies already pledging to support Ashley in the ’24 in 24’ challenge include the Southgate Mercure Exeter Hotel, Urban Burger, Otton’s Haberdashery, Tessa Jane Design and @Devon_Hour.

To find out more and support Ashley go to http://bit.ly/justgivingAP24