Members of Gosport Borough Hockey Club take on 5km fundraising challenge to create hampers for NHS staff
HOCKEY players have thrown themselves into a 5km challenge while games are off to show appreciation for NHS staff working hard in hospitals.
Gosport Borough Hockey Club secretary Lisa Mortimore came up with the idea of raising funds for key workers while matches and training are cancelled during lockdown.
The close-knit community has been running or walking 5km in their team kit and donating a ‘match fee’ to fund hampers for healthcare workers.
Lisa, 42, said: ‘I wanted to find something positive as we haven’t been able to play hockey for ages. Everyone’s stuck at home so it would be nice to do something positive.
‘We just want to show our support. You feel a bit helpless that apart from staying at home and following the rules, you can’t really help them.
‘People have been quite generous, I think it’s something people are keen to get behind. It’s nice to feel like we’re helping in some way.’
More than £400 has already been donated to the total, smashing the original £200 target.
Members’ efforts mean hampers will be given to staff at Rowans Hospice, Queen Alexandra Hospital, St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, the Patient Transport Service and district nurses based at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
Donna Sutton, club chairman, said: ‘We've had donations from people outside of our hockey community which is such a great feeling to show people trust us and support our cause.
‘Lisa and I reached out to our players and supporters who we know work in the health care sector and have gathered a great list of health care teams who all deserve the recognition and appreciation.
‘Lisa and I have been shopping and gathered some rather scrummy and functional items for the hampers, which have been suggested by the teams as being useful.’
A large donation of £100 came in from an unknown source which turned out to be the uncle of under-eight player Elena Fenwick, five.
Donna added: ‘Elena's uncle and aunty both work in the NHS and Elena decided to complete her 5km in 1km stints Monday to Friday last week raising £155 for a cause close to her heart!
‘Elena has a big heart and a strong personality and [is] the highest fundraiser in our campaign.’
Visit gofund.me/4c7fe1f3 to learn more about the challenge or to donate.