Staff at Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Edgbaston Stadium have hit their distance target of covering the Club’s founding year of 1882, in kilometres, as part of the 2.6 Challenge.
Since Monday 27 April, more than 40 Club staff have been running, cycling and walking through a series of 2.6 related challenges to raise funds for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and the NSPCC’s Childline service in Birmingham.
Safety Officer David Clarke has been leading the team from the front by setting himself a 260-mile target to cover on his bike before the end of May. However, he reached his goal on Sunday.
“It’s been fantastic to follow the great efforts that staff have made over the last three weeks,” said Clarke.
“Our first thought was that we might be able to engage of group of regular runners or cyclists to make a pledge, but our staff have gone way beyond this. Some have started running for the first time, some are covering distances that they never previously thought possible, but the most pleasing thing has been the way that it has brought staff together and the support that has been shown for fellow team members.”
More than £4,500 has already been raised with the team hoping to double their existing fundraising target of £2,600.
Clarke added: “Whilst we’ve gone past our initial distance and fundraising targets, we’re certainly not resting on our laurels. We want to smash our target and to raise as much as we can for these two charities during this difficult time.”
In addition to the 2.6 Challenge, Warwickshire CCC is also raising funds for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and NSPCC’s Childline service through sales of a special NHS-inspired take on the Bear & Ragged Staff crest, which has been designed by men’s First Team Coach Jim Troughton.
Available in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes, the t-shirts are available to order online through Store 94 for just £15.
Fundraising is part of a wider community response project led by Warwickshire CCC, with the Edgbaston car park donated for use as an NHS COVID-19 testing centre, whilst its exhibition hall is being used as a food storage and distribution centre for the local charity, Thrive Together Birmingham.
Donate to the Bears 2.6 Challenge
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and the NSPCC’s Childline service in the city will benefit from funds raised by more than 40 Bears employees undertaking challenges from running to baking and intensive workouts to household chores.
