Mirfield Netball Club raises £1,100 for Yorkshire Cancer Research content
Members of a netball club have raised £1,100 for Yorkshire Cancer Research after completing a lockdown distance challenge in memory of their teammate’s mum.
While lockdown rules prevented team sport, Mirfield Netball Club completed a total of 428.8km through a wide range of activities including horse riding, cycling, indoor rowing, walking and running.
They chose to raise funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research after a long-term member of the club, Deborah Benson from Cleckheaton, lost her mum Lilian to cancer in December.
Coach and player Lucy Davies said: “We couldn’t be by Deb’s side at the funeral or give her a hug. Even letting people know about her loss felt a bit strange, because we had to do it by messaging people. So, we wanted to do something to support our friend and pay tribute to her mum.”
To enter the challenge, players were asked to pledge a distance they would complete during the final weekend before training was permitted to resume, and then donate to the charity.
Lucy continued: “As a club we’ve stayed close through lockdown, despite not being able to train or play together. We’ve completed numerous fitness and fun challenges. On the charity weekend, 16 players got involved. We had no idea we would raise as much as we did.”
Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “We are pleased that the members of Mirfield Netball Club were able to turn such a difficult situation into something so positive. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all those involved in raising such a fantastic amount. The funds raised will help improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Yorkshire.”
Find out more about fundraising for Yorkshire Cancer Research