Staffordshire side St Leonard’s Rugby Club is donating gift packages to emergency service workers and teachers as a thank you for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic after raising a sizeable amount of money through fundraising.
The Staffordshire League Division 1 outfit has, so far, raised £1,360 through various club activities that have taken place during lockdown.
The Stafford-based club will aim to reach its target of £1,500 in the last round of games next weekend with all money raised being put towards buying boxes of chocolate and treats that will then be donated to key workers.
Olivier Quindos of St Leonard’s RUFC explained further to Sport in Staffs how the money was raised.
“We have raised £1,360 when our target was to originally raise £1,000,” he said.
“We did it mostly through organising virtual rugby tournaments where people paid £10 to enter the tournament, make up a team name and scores were settled through using dice throws, two per team, in one vs one knockout games.
“We did two such tournaments involving 32 teams first and then 40, second. We also did some fundraisers using scratch cards. We decided to aim for £1,500 so we will run the last fundraising virtual game next weekend.
“Every time, we do it live on our members group on Facebook to also have a bit of entertainment.
“We’ve done it all through games and activity-based fundraisers but most winners refused to take their winnings and also contributed them to the fund.”
Olivier went on the state to whom the club’s gift packages would be given.
“A few hundred (pounds) will be spent for donation chocolate boxes to three local schools’ staff to thank them for looking after key workers’ kids.
“(This is the) Same for the critical care unit at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton as they saved the mother-in-law of one of our players from Covid-19.
“The main part left will be used to buy and donate cans of pop, sweets and chocolate bars to the ambulance service in Stafford, with same for the staff at Grey Friars NHS Medical House and also for carers in the community and at Fuchsia Home Care.”
People can donate to this cause by emailing saints@stleonardsrugby.co.uk and enquiring about giving money to the fundraiser.
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