Cardiff University PhD student Julie Dumont is planning to raise money for charity by doing a handstand every day for a year.
Julie is hoping to raise money to build a playground in Uganda, after she helped with a similar scheme in February.
Julie joined an Australian couple who were doing a handstand every day throughout February.
Julie, 26, who is studying to become a doctor in neuroscience said: “Whilst I was doing them people would say, ‘That’s great you should do it for a year’.
“My response was, ‘Are you insane?’ Then February ended and I was like, ‘Great, now what?’ so I decided to do them for a year and raise money for a cause.
“I had a few ideas what I wanted to raise money for and I found the charity East African Playgrounds on the internet. It’s an awesome charity.”
The charity was founded in 2009 by students from the University of Leeds and they have recently installed their 12th playground.
“For me it’s important that children have fun,” said Julie who hopes to raise enough to cover the costs of a playground: £6,000.
“There’re lots of charities for clothing, shelter, education and food but not many organisations that think about disadvantaged children having fun and doing what children should be doing. “For me doing handstands is a bit of fun, I try and keep it fun for everyone and I’m trying to do the handstands in different locations. If I raise the money I would like to visit the playground it builds.
“Handstands are great fun and a fantastic thing to do if you’re feeling stressed I guarantee you’ll do a hand stand and start laughing.”
Julie’s last handstand will be in Janurary 2013, when she finishes her PHD: “I hope that my last handstand will be as a doctor once I have graduated. It will mean so much to me if I can complete my PHD, the handstands and hit my fundraising target all in the same week.
“People have been really intrigued by what I’m doing but I also hope they will help me to raise this money.”
To donate or for more information go to: www.justgiving.com/Julie-Dumont or www.facebook.com/3651HandstandsForEastAfricanPlaygrounds.