Rugby club’s team effort for NHS funds

£5 for a 5k run raises cash in lockdown

Players from Bannockburn Rugby Club have been making the most of their lockdown by raising money for NHS Forth Valley.

Senior players and coaches at the Bluebellwood Park side have been using their daily permitted exercise to run five kilometres at a time, followed by a £5 donation and then nominating five friends or teammates to get involved.

The players and staff have been keeping their bodies ticking over during the lockdown and as a result the club has raised more than £350 to date, with more donations coming in.

Money raised on the Bannockburn

RFC JustGiving page goes to Forth Valley Giving, which is the official charity of NHS Forth Valley.

The charity supports local NHS patients and staff in the region, directing donations to where they are most needed.

The club also launched the ‘Pass the Pledge’ campaign among Forth Valley rugby clubs, which encourages players of all ages to take part in the charitable effort.

Teams such as Stirling County, Alloa and Falkirk have all been invited to take part.

The fundraising campaign was spearheaded by senior team lock Kenny Marshall, who wanted to help local NHS workers.

He said: “The idea came from some friends who are NHS staff.

“They’re obviously under immense pressure because of Covid-19, and it has a huge effect on their families.

“As a rugby community we’re used to helping each other out. This is just a small gesture of our appreciation for the NHS workers in the Forth Valley.”

Bannockburn RFC head coach Jimmy Samuel added: “Even though we’re all far apart and under lockdown, the fundraising campaign has been a great team activity.

“We need to look after our mental health in this situation, so to have something positive to work on – which includes fitness, competition and a bit of camaraderie – is a great distraction.

“Pass the Pledge is our way of joining up fundraising efforts with our friends in clubs across the Forth Valley. Hopefully it means more funds raised for such a vital service.”

Training and matches are cancelled for the foreseeable. The club is running weekly Zoom training sessions.