Clubs Making Real Difference in Volunteers Week
There’s been no sign of rugby clubs flagging during the coronavirus pandemic, as across the nation they continue to help their communities in any way they can.
Many are fundraising for charities who need this help more than ever, others continue to support their local hospitals, the NHS and key workers. There are some tough challenges being set, not just by the current crisis but by clubs wanting to keep players fit while making a real difference
Chorley Helping Children’s Hospice
Chorley RUFC in Lancashire are raising much needed funds for Derian House Children’s Hospice where they support 400 seriously ill children and young people from across North West England, helping them make happy memories with their families in the time that they have.
With coronavirus having a devastating effect on fundraising, Chorley are making a difference through their 400 Challenge. Players young and old can contribute any 400 reps of activity and the club says that can be 400 deadlifts, squats or “for the forwards walking 400 metres.”
It’s good to see the humour and uplifting spirit of rugby is alive and well in Lancashire. Having set a £400 target, they are already overtaking £2,000, with more coming in daily at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chorleyrufc-doitforderian
Barnes RFC supporting Queen Mary’s Hospital
After the Barnes RFC Big Lift Challenge which raised more than £155k in support of NHS charities in honour of loyal club man Garry Garrett who lost his life to Covid-19, the club has carried on helping during the pandemic.
Members of the women’s squad have been supporting the London Borough of Lambeth by distributing food to vulnerable citizens, and a clubhouse team has been looking after NHS staff at the Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton. Headed by mother and daughter Abi and Zoe Rand, the team have been preparing and delivering hot meals for the medical staff at the hospital as there’s been no canteen available at the hospital at the moment.
Dana Murray, Outpatients Services Manager for the hospital said: “I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude on behalf of all at Queen Mary’s Hospital for the joy and pleasure that you have given the staff by delivering scrumptious food. Since May we have received a variety of tasty foods cooked by members of Barnes RFC. We cannot thank you enough for thinking of Queen Mary’s and it is very much appreciated. During these unprecedented times it is heartening to see such kindness being shown to the NHS and our key worker colleagues.”
Long Eaton’s Pizza Deliveries
Long Eaton RFC have linked with a local factory to take their unsold pizzas and deliver them where they are most needed. Led by Management Team Volunteer & Social Secretary, Jackie Brookes, club members have spent many hours taking pizzas to local NHS practices, police and fire stations and care homes, where they’ve proved very popular during the Covid-19 crisis.
Oswestry Heads Round the World
Oswestry rugby club’s members are certainly going the extra mile, or 24,901 miles to be precise. Their Round the World in 60 Days Challenge kicked off on 26 May and runs until 25 July as people run, walk, cycle, swim and finally maybe crawl a combined distance around the world. The club aims to keep everyone fit, keep the club viable and also to raise funds when they are most needed, for The Movement Centre, a charity and specialist treatment centre supporting children with movement difficulties and their families.
Thanking Yeovil Hospital
For Crewkerne RFC the distance they chose was to Twickenham Stadium, some 250 miles, and they wanted to raise money for Yeovil District Hospital. Club members more than fulfilled their ambition, overtaking their target and raising £2,356. Featured in the local paper, the club raised spirits as well as funds and said they wanted to give something back to front line medical staff working so hard in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and also to thank them for helping club players over the years.
Leigh caring for young players
To raise enough money to have all their junior players’ hearts monitored in the future, at Leigh RUFC the old boys set themselves a challenge. Up to now, 38 of them have been logging their miles when they do their daily exercise of walking, running, rowing and riding. They’ve even got Old Boys joining in from Ireland, Holland and Australia split between two teams: the Piano Shifters (forwards) and Cads & Scoundrels (backs) they set off to race from Murrayfield to Rome, via every Six Nations home venue, a total of 1770 miles. Each night everyone knows where they are virtually staying, the backs in 5 star luxury, while the forwards get a dingy hotel.
The challenge has proved so popular that after Rome they decided to pool all their daily mileage and head to Ellis Park where the British & Irish Lions are booked to play their final game in 2021. This means an additional 6,800 miles along the length of Africa. The challenge now is to be in Johannesburg by the third Friday in June, traditionally the Leigh RUFC Annual Dinner, which will be online this year.
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
