Epic fundraisers from 21 years of changing lives

Creativity is at the heart of so much of what we do at Blue Dragon – and that goes for fundraising too!

Since Blue Dragon began 21 years ago, all sorts of people have come up with all sorts of ways to push themselves as they raise money to change lives. 

Read on for some of the most memorable things our incredible supporters have got up to over the years.

Iain Purdie: 1,000 miles to freedom!

All the way back in 2006, Iain Purdie became the first person to go the extra mile in his fundraising efforts. 

“My inspiration was twofold. I was head over heels about a lady I’d been dating and had intended to walk back to her in Newcastle, but that kind of fell apart! The other inspiration was, simply, the work being done by Blue Dragon.”

Iain found himself getting a little too enthusiastic along his journey, needing some care from a kind person in Italy to keep him fit and firing.

“My feet were ruined by the time I got to Turin as I’d doubled my planned pace for two days. My hosts there put me up for several days until I was able to walk again. One was a doctor, and refused to let me leave his flat after he saw the state of my feet. He even came home from work each lunchtime to feed me!”

Once he’d recovered, Iain began again at a slower pace and finally made it to England two months after he first set off. What an inspiration!

Jake and Sean: Taking steps against slavery… across three countries!

In 2024, Jake and Sean spent months walking 2,000 km from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in a monumental effort for vulnerable children across Vietnam.

This year, they’re going international! 

In October, the duo began another walk from Hanoi, but this time they’ll end up in Chiang Mai. The 2,000 km trek will take them through the mountains of northern Vietnam and all the way across Laos.

“Each step we take is to rescue kids from slavery and homelessness and set them on a path where they don’t have to fight through pain just to get by.”

Alex: an unusual marathon…

Alex, who spent years working as an English teacher in Vietnam, wanted to give back to the country that welcomed him with open arms. Inspired by the love he feels for his daughters, he pulled a one-ton car for a full 42 km marathon!

“Like the people of Blue Dragon, I will not quit,” shared Alex before his extraordinary marathon. “We must face the challenge ahead!”

True to his word, Alex smashed the 42 km challenge, pulling off an incredible feat to change lives across the country.

Captain Bookworm: Cycling up a storm

Truong of The Bookworm Hanoi is an avid walker, a passionate cyclist and a long-term Blue Dragon supporter. And in 2024 he raised money by cycling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Truong’s epic feat was fueled by a desire to help vulnerable children across Vietnam. It was also a journey of discovery, giving him new perspectives on the country that he has spent so much time and energy exploring.

“Cycling across almost the entire length of my country, I have passed through many different villages and countryside areas. I have seen many interesting rural customs and practices of people in remote regions. All of this has given me an unforgettable experience.”

Nhon: Push ups for peace

Pushing for change by pushing his body to the limits! 

Nhon is passionate about fitness, sharing that he finds exercise a fantastic way to take care of his mental health. So he decided to use his passion for the good of others by doing 1,000 push ups in one hour to raise $1,000.

“This challenge is tough, but I love it,” he shared. “Street kids face more challenges than me. I have no excuses.”

Kim Miller: Swimming the English channel

In 2024, Blue Dragon’s very own Kim Miller swam the English Channel. 

Kim has been a part of Blue Dragon for over 10 years. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she took to ocean swimming as a new hobby… and just a few short years later achieved an amazing life goal!

Her swim took 13 hours and 21 minutes, supported by a volunteer boat crew who kept her fed and energised. Kim raised over $120,000 – paying for children to attend school, families to start farms and small businesses, and for communities to establish their own interventions to increase resilience against human trafficking.

Ekta Shetty: 8 peaks, 6 weeks

Over the course of six weeks in 2019, Ekta Shetty scaled eight mountains across four different countries to raise funds for Blue Dragon’s fight against human trafficking. 

“I think Blue Dragon’s work is an inspiration and I thought this was the best way for me to contribute,” she shared. 

Ekta smashed her target in a breathtaking display of compassion and courage.

Take on your own fundraiser!

These are just a few of the ways that incredible people have supported Blue Dragon over the years. Many more have climbed mountains, swum around islands and trekked vast distances in the name of changing lives.

Anything you do to raise money will make a difference to the lives of vulnerable people in Vietnam. Whether you’d like to scale mountains, bake tasty treats or organise a fun get-together with a few friends, just follow this link to get started.