Barnes Big Lift raises £147k for NHS
Garry Garrett was a big part of Barnes Rugby Club where his son Jack plays hooker.
When coronavirus took his life, the club wanted to do something to honour him and help the NHS who are caring for us all.
Garry’s wife Yolanda, who was always with him watching the First XV, watched last weekend as the plan to lift One Million Kg was overtaken, together with the £10,000 target for the NHS Charities.
Last Saturday over 8 million kgs had been lifted by 4pm and at the last count that had brought in £147,000 for the NHS.
Barnes RFC players, parents, members and friends helped make the lift not just big but gigantic, hauling aloft weights, bags of rice, cans of beer, packets of spuds, kids and even a pet dog in his basket.
The Big Lift went viral, spreading from Barnes across the UK, and the world. More than 100 current and former rugby stars got involved, and 29 of the current England squad, led by Jamie George, who played his youth rugby with Jack at Bishop Stortford. The squad lifted close to 300,000 kg between them.
Former greats included the likes of Jason Leonard Sean Fitzpatrick, Will Greenwood, Martin Bayfield, Lee Halfpenny, Will Carling, Jonny Wilkinson, Joe Roff, Matt Giteau, David Campese, Mike Tindall and Lawrence Dallaglio, with videos, including one from RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney, supporting The Big Lift.
Former Barnes players included one lifting on an oil rig in the Indian Ocean, the local vicar was lifting his Victorian bible, a farmer lifted a new born calf. There were NHS nurses lifting saline drip bags in Bristol. Add to that 650 boys and girls from Barnes minis and juniors, all the players in their men’s and women’s teams, the wolf mascot from Bury St Edmunds RFC, Richmond Heavies and they had lift off.
Garry’s wife Yolanda said: “There are too many wonderful people to thank individually. I do want to thank Jamie George for spreading the word across his personal rugby network and the media, for supporting his friend, and my son, Jack, and our family at this difficult time.
"We have been able to celebrate Garry’s life in a truly remarkable way. Thank you also to everyone t Barnes Rugby Club who made this happen, we will never forget the 2ns of May 2020.”
Jack added: “What an incredible week leading up to an even more amazing day. I never thought The Big Lift would explode the way it has, and I am truly humbled by all the messages, videos and donations that we have received. It has contributed to the perfect send off for my dad."
Barnes RFC Chairman Michael Whitfield says the passion, support and love shown for both Garry Garrett and the NHS made The Big Lift “an extraordinary day that none of us involved will ever forget. It was rugby doing what it does best, standing up, being counted as one wonderful, and caring, band of brothers and sisters.”
You can still support The Big Lift here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/BarnesRFC
