Inspired by clubs’ support of communities
Clubs up and down the country continue to show rugby's values and help support their communities during lockdown.
As long as their communities need it, rugby clubs will be helping during the coronavirus crisis, while also getting ready to welcome their members back when it’s safe to do so.
There has been some outstanding work over the past three month and great examples of rugby’s values.
Rugby Football Union CEO Bill Sweeney told Council members at last week’s virtual AGM: “I have great confidence in our clubs and we have all been inspired by the many stories across the game of the rugby family working together to support those who are the most vulnerable in their community – this encapsulates the unique spirt of rugby and reinforces that clubs across our community game are more than just rugby clubs in their local communities.
“We are on top of this most challenging of times and I am confident that this spirit and resilience during this period will ensure we will come through this together and emerge stronger.”
Chef Coach Cooks Up a Storm
When Paul Taylor, Altrincham Kersal RFC’s U13 coach and an experienced professional chef, aided and abetted by players and members Jack Gallimore, Neil Hitchen and Mark Povey, suggested setting up a community kitchen in the lockdown, the club chairman was sceptical.
“At the start, not realising how bad this crisis was going to be, I wondered if there would be much uptake,” said Tim Marston. “Then orders started pouring in from the community for the top class meals we were delivering at cost to help the community.
“At the same time we were delivering free meals to nearby key NHS workers at Wythenshawe Hospital. We are a club with the community at its heart and the service proved to be immensely popular during such a tough time.”
Having pepared and delivered thousands of meals over the last three months, the club has said a huge thank you to the many contributors and their team. They will continue their food delivery and collection until later this month (June) then will provide a collection only service every Friday from the club kitchen.
T-shirts, runners & riders
Old Dunstonian's RFC have created a special NHS Heroes T-shirt, selling more than 100, including two to Australia, and raising money for NHS Charities.
Two of their players, Jack Powter and Andy Booth, have also created a run and cycle challenge for club members to cover 25,000 kms by the end of June.
The original target of 10,000 kms was soon overtaken by 120 players and supporters now running and riding every week. Currently, they’ve exceeded 11,000 kms with three weeks to go and much needed funds will be going to the Alzheimers Trust and the Deborah Ubee Charity Trust and their Centre for Emotional Health, which provides therapeutic services for all.
Visit their Just Giving page – www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/odrfccharityrun
North Dorset U8s found a way to work together as a team by running, cycling and walking and adding their miles together.
At first it was to cover the distance from their training ground to Twickenham. They smashed the 202 miles needed in just over a week and are now covering the distance to visit the national stadiums in Wales, Ireland and Scotland, a total of 1,269 miles. So far they have travelled to Twickenham and back, to Wales, Wales over to Ireland and they are now on their way from Ireland to Scotland.
They have covered an amazing 621.5 miles and raised over £200 for the Air Ambulance on the way. Well done team.
The fundraising link to the North Dorset U8s Great British Rugby Tour page is: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicola-bray9
Honiton offer hope
Honiton RFC refurbished their clubhouse and put in a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen before the coronavirus lockdown.
With the help of club member and local councillor, Jason Hannay, they offered the use of the kitchen to the town’s community support group. It has since become a thriving pop-up community kitchen.
A band of socially distancing volunteers have been preparing, cooking and delivering meals to the vulnerable families in the community thanks to donations from supermarkets and people in the town. Meals are also being frozen for anyone who urgently needs them to collect.
The club has sent out nearly 600 meals already, invaluable support during these difficult times. They also housed two homeless people in the top changing rooms until they were found more suitable accommodation.
Hero Gabe & Pirate Tom
Despite suffering cerebral palsy in four limbs, plus autism, epilepsy and being registered blind, 21-year-old Gabe Judge used a walker to not only attempt the last of 10 x .26 mile walks to raise a fantastic amount of money for the charity ‘Scope’, but also achieved his 2.6 mile goal. He was also accompanied on the last leg of his walking challenge by Cornish Pirate Tom Duncan.
Gabe’s mum Debbie is the shop manager for Scope in Camborne and Gabe is the mascot for all shops in the area.
“Many thanks to the Cornish Pirates for their support,” said his dad Simon.
“Now Gabe is getting used to noises we hope, as fans, we will be able to come and watch a game. A big thank you also for Tom. He was great and really helped get the message across of look at the ability not the disability.”
Tom added: “It was a huge effort by Gabe to complete his challenge and I am humbled. His was a massive effort and the self-determination he displayed was so admirable.
“He has been an inspiration and with so many things happening in lockdown this was right up there with everything else. The community got behind him, and I was so happy to be a small part of it. When convenient the Cornish Pirates will also look forward to welcoming Gabe as a guest to one of our matches.”
To find out more about his story, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gabe-judge26
