Staffordshire cricket club Hem Heath has raised more than £1,400 for the Smash The Tash campaign which is fundraising for the NHS amid coronavirus and subsequent the suspension of the start of the cricket season.
The club decided to contribute to the cause – which has now raised more than £20,000 – and launched ‘The Double Ton-up Challenge’ which consisted of members running between cricket wickets (which are 22 yards apart) to score a minimum 200 ‘runs’ every day for 10 days during May.
This meant each participant would run the equivalent of just under a marathon, with many ending up running further – all in their cricket whites, pads and helmets.
“I thought it would be fairly easy but it was actually quite hard when you are in your full kit, especially when it is sunny,” Hem Heath first team captain Greg Prime told Sport in Staffs.
“I completed a half-marathon in March so the running bit was fine for me but there was definitely a lot of sweat in the helmet afterwards,” he laughed.
Greg, who helped to organise the fundraiser, went on to explain that vice captain Tom East had kept track of the number of runs made throughout the fundraiser and revealed that members had managed clock more than 54,000 runs in total – surpassing the number of runs cricketing great WG Grace had tallied throughout his first class career.
Greg said that the money raised from the effort would be going to a worthy cause.
“What Smash The Tash has done is absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“To raise as much money as they have so far is fantastic, and now more clubs are taking part in initiatives than ever before. It’s brilliant that so many clubs are getting involved.”
David Fairbanks, who set up Smash The Tash with Craig Barker and David Edwards, commented: “One of the key points is how I approached ‘Primey’ and he had an initiative set up in within 24 hours.
“Him and Tom East were the driving force behind the initiative and the response and reaction from the rest of the lads and lasses gave me and Craig goosebumps when when popped down to Trentham Lakes on Saturday to see them. An absolute credit to their club, the league and Stoke-on-Trent.”
Hem Heath batsman Greg added: “Our Just Giving page is still open so people can still donate to our fundraiser if they want to. It closes this weekend and all money will be sent to Smash The Tash.”
To donate to Hem Heath CC’s ‘Double Ton-up Challenge’ click here.
To donate directly to the Smash The Tash campaign, click here.
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