In December 2018, cherished Action Coach Kent Rhodes sadly passed away after a brave fight against cancer. Kent was a well-known and respected figure in the franchise community, admired for his generous and rigorous spirit. His legacy extends far beyond his exceptional work as a franchise partner. To honour Kent’s memory, the ActionCOACH UK community undertakes an annual challenge that embodies his qualities, while doing as much as they can to help those less fortunate than themselves.
Earlier this month, a team of amateur (but keen!) walkers undertook their toughest challenge yet – hiking up Yr Wyddfa (Mt Snowdon) to raise money for Children with Cancer UK. The team, led by Roger Pemberton, has now raised over £8,500, bringing the total raised by ActionCOACH UK to over £93,000 since the challenge’s inception.
“Unfortunately, far too many parents still receive the devastating news that their child has cancer each day. If our efforts can help reduce this number, we will have made Kent proud. He always strived to make a difference for his clients and for his community. The fact that we can continue to be inspired by his legacy, even in a small way through our annual event, is the least we can do,” said Ian Christelow, ActionCOACH UK Co-Founder.
For Kent’s mother, Sue Rhodes, who travelled to participate in the challenge in 2022, “The fact his legacy is being kept alive over five years after his death is a testimony to the values and ethos of the ActionCOACH community. It means a great deal to me that children who are suffering from the awful disease which took Kent are going to benefit from the fundraising efforts. I’m so grateful to ActionCOACH, who were such a big part of Kent’s life. It makes me emotional to think about how incredible the support has been since he passed.”
Since 2018, the ActionCOACH community has undertaken numerous challenges in Kent’s name. Action Coaches Andrew Kureishy and Marc Eccles initiated the idea, with Roger Pemberton leading this year’s campaign.
Marc, who was coached and mentored by Kent when he joined the ActionCOACH franchise, said, “We want as many kids as possible to ring the bell at the end of their successful treatments. Any support or contribution from the franchise community would be fantastic.”
Roger added, “It’s a great honour to be leading this year’s challenge. Kent’s commitment to making a difference in so many people’s lives continues to inspire us all. It’s fantastic to see the amount we have raised for such an amazing cause – long may it continue. Any further support or donations we receive are much appreciated.”
