Gordano’s Lockdown Christmas Gift
Gordano U13s squad of 39 players, whose club is based just outside Bristol, agreed during the second lockdown to a challenge set by their coaches to keep the youngsters active and positive and bring Christmas cheer.
Four teams, together with their coaches, competed against each other to rack up the biggest distance cycling, running and walking and every player, along with their families, signed up to take part in the Santas on the Run event for the Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), a charity close to the players’ hearts. During the challenge, they received messages of support and encouragement from Lee Mears (former Bath, England and British & Irish Lions), Joe Joyce (Bristol Bears) and Simi Pam and Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears Women), which really spurred them on.
Over 25 days of lockdown, the players covered in excess of 6,200km (averaging 6.2km per player per day) which was made more remarkable by the fact that walking to and from school wasn’t counted. Not only did the players maintain their fitness, but it helped them and their families to remain positive throughout lockdown. Families enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with each other walking, running and cycling and shared their experiences with family and friends to gain sponsorship for the upcoming charity event.
Over the weekend of 11-13 December, every player within the squad, along with their families, donned their festive gear and took to the streets of Portishead and Pill to raise some cheer in aid of CHSW.
Not only did they help to lift everyone’s spirits but, having set out with relatively modest intentions, they have raised in excess of £10,000 for the charity. This represents a massive chunk of what the whole event raised and the charity.
Their sponsorship page.
