Clubs’ Heartfelt Help and Thanks
Every grassroots rugby club is at the heart of its local community and many are helping more than ever.
Helping out & staying connected
Edwardian FC have run, walked and cycled their way to a massive 5800 miles, raising more than £2700 for charity.
The mammoth challenge replicated a journey from Murrayfield in Scotland to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico via each national and top-flight stadium in the UK, Ireland, France and Italy.
Having made it to Rome the team weren’t content on stopping there, deciding to do the distance back to their clubhouse in Solihull on top.
The funds will be split between three causes, which are Age UK Solihull, the NHS and their own club funds.
Working with Olton & West Warwickshire Cricket Club, the club have been working closely with Age UK to deliver vital food packages to those in need.
More than 3000 food parcels have been delivered to elderly and vulnerable people over the course of six weeks.
Brian Chappelhow , Edwardian Chairman, “We’ve had a fantastic year of grassroots growth, especially in the Mini & Junior sections, including the U15 girls game. With club income currently at zero, we need to raise funds to continue the growth and development at all ages.
“We also want to support our local community both by fundraising and helping those who are vulnerable. It is testament to our membership that these initiatives were driven by individuals, rather than our committee, and massive thanks should go to them."
To donate to the cause, click here.
Ryton Women Carry Rugby Hope
There was a similar theme for the women of Ryton RFC in Tyne and Wear, who also engaged in a fitness challenge for charity.
This time the team walked, ran and cycled the distance to missed holiday destinations in Milan, Italy and Benidorm, Spain.
They also raised spirits by running in rainbow tutus to each others houses, accompanied by a sanitised rainbow rugby ball they called Hope.
The team ensuring they kept a social distance at all times along a 66-mile journey to raise funds for the NHS.
Captain of Ryton Roses, Alison Meek said: “We missed seeing each other and wanted to say thank you to the NHS and we took the ball to the doorstep or garden gate of team mates.
“One of our players Pauline Renwick, who’s on the NHS frontline, started the journey off and we had 22 players involved. Running or cycling around the villages and country roads, we raised a few laughs as we carried Hope from place to place.”
Snacks for a stressful time
The members of Mansfield Rugby Club ensured frontline NHS staff and key worked were well fed with their activities.
They raised £3,620 to donate their entire stock of snacks and drinks to the staff at Kings Mill Hospital.
The club counts a number of frontline workers and NHS staff in its membership and raised some of the cash through a charity head shave.
The efforts providing the dual benefit of helping shed some wild lockdown locks.
Scunthorpe Mini Juniors also helped by sending a delivery or rugby stress balls to Scunthorpe General Hospital for the heroes on the front line.
Chairman Tony Wilkinson said: “We’re very much a community club and wanted those who are helping our community to know how much it’s appreciated. It was just a small gesture of our appreciation.”
Olney meat & greet
Olney RFC have raised £2,150 for NHS Charities Together after restarting their traditional meat raffle in virtual form.
With the clubhouse closed due to the pandemic, the usual Sunday raffle had to be shut down.
But with the power of the internet and social media, the guys have been able to reinstate the raffle with the winner picked out live on Facebook.
Pass for pounds
Nottingham Corsairs U15s managed a mammoth 150,000 passes in just 22 days as they raised £4,500 for the NHS.
They also donated £450 to the Rosie May Foundation, which provides food for families in Sri Lanka.
Helping our heroes
Old Northamptonians have raised more than £2,000 to support staff at Northampton General Hospital.
This off the back of an earlier donation of £1,726 for the East Midlands Air Ambulance that flew in to help with an injury at a previous home match.
Through rewarding grassroots volunteers with its Volunteer Recognition Programme, England Rugby’s Performance Partner Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is proud to support and develop rugby volunteers nationwide. To find out more, please visit www.englandrugby.com/mmvrp
