Fundraising Footy!
What a pleasure it was to spend the morning with students and teachers from Medway and East Kent schools, who had teamed up with their Challenger Troop instructors, to battle it out on the football pitch in the glorious sunshine, to raise money for their chosen charity ‘Help for Heroes.’ Boy did they play well!
Fair play and encouragement all the way
With the first teams on the pitch the whistle blew and the Charity Football Tournament began! There was plenty of enthusiasm, fancy footwork and skilful movements on display. The students showed great determination and teamwork, no one held back! They were absolutely brilliant, watching out for one another passing the ball at the right time, getting those all important goals and jumping in the air with excitement as each team scored goal after goal! I was so impressed with how the students interacted and congratulated each other as they played and shaking hands after each match. They demonstrated real sportsmanship and kept a keen sense of purpose whilst enjoying themselves and having fun.
Cheering from the sidelines were their fellow students, teachers and our instructors offering words of encouragement, direction and rounds of applause as each goal was scored. Watching this event, I felt that there was a real sense of community with all the participants, family and teachers as they gathered round the pitch cheering the players on and enjoying their picnics whilst watching the games unfold.
At the mid-point, Sgt Cargen, Medway Team instructor commented, “Today’s charity match in East Kent is going really well. Everyone’s working really well together. The teamwork is excellent and everyone’s really enjoying themselves in the sunshine”.
Well done everyone
After a full round robin of matches, congratulations go to all those in team ‘Traffic Cones’ who won the tournament. Along with a big thank you and well done to all participants and teachers from Medway and East Kent Schools, including Goldwyn, Broomhill Bank North, Robert Napier, Helen Allison, Rivermead, Lighthouse Upper, Aspen2 and Ifield. Without your help, encouragement and participation this day would not have happened!
Mrs Alder from The Robert Napier School noticed that some of her students showed a different side of themselves today. She told me “It’s a great opportunity for our children just to come out of school and join Challenger Troop on the football pitch today. I’ve seen two of our students who are very awkward in and around school but on the football pitch here today, one young lad, Jack, has played amazingly and it’s such a boost for his confidence and Sarah, so wonderful to see a young lady in against the boys playing football so well. Great day, lovely for them to have the chance.”
The participants all chose Help for Heroes as their charity and funds are still being collected at the time of writing.
Help for Heroes was founded in 2007 to provide direct, practical support for wounded, injured and sick Veterans, Servicemen and women and their loved ones. To find out more about their work visit: www.helpforheroes.org.uk
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