Yorkshire netballers united in support of the NHS
Continuing our series in which journalism students unearth stories, Conor De Smith is a journalism graduate from De Montfort University.
NETBALL CLUBS across Yorkshire have been running, cycling and walking in order to raise money for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the enforced postponement of the league season, women of all ages have gone above and beyond to raise thousands of pounds for NHS charities.
Admiration for healthcare workers inspired players to get out and do their bit with some running more than 50km per week.
Yorkshire’s only Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) franchise, Leeds Rhinos Netball – who join Superleague in 2021 – have raised £1,465 after 48 girls collectively travelled the equivalent of 2,170km over ten days.
Originally a two-week target to travel the distance from Leeds to every other VNSL venue, the youth competition squads surpassed their goal by 46 per cent.
With team-mates being kept apart, Under-19s player Erin Hodgkiss wanted to keep her fellow Rhinos engaged and active during this difficult time, whilst supporting a cause very close to her heart.
“I thought it would be good for us to get involved, stay connected and stay active,” said Hodkiss, whose mother works for the NHS.
“We had a group chat which we all kept in contact on and used a fitness app so we could like each other’s activities. It’s definitely brought us all together and shows how united we all are.
“It was just about showing how great the NHS are.
“Everyone is so inspired and appreciative of what the NHS are doing for us that it’s the least that we could do. We felt that they needed our support for everything they are doing for us all during this situation.”
The players were supported by their club and had their usual online fitness sessions altered to incorporate the increase in cardio as a result of the challenge.
Rhinos’ director of netball Anna Carter added: “I’m really proud of them all.
“The girls are really mindful of the bigger picture and are always thinking beyond themselves.
“It’s just a bit of Yorkshire mentality.
“They always challenge themselves and it is just the Yorkshire way.
“I think that’s something that I’ve found in my 13 years here.”
Elsewhere, Leeds Beckett University’s netball team turned the disappointment of having their annual sports tour to Porec, Croatia, cancelled into a £2,000 fundraiser for the NHS.
The group of 38 girls collectively travelled 2,040km to what would have been their hotel by foot or by bike in a bid to raise money.
Beckett Netball met their original target of £1,000 in the first 24 hours and, since doubling the desired total, have raised £1,800 for healthcare workers so far.
Club captain Chloe Smith said: “It was very difficult. Quite a lot of us were running it so we had to get a lot of miles done on foot which was really challenging. It took us four days to get there but we were all exhausted by the end of it.
“A couple of our netball girls who were here last year are currently working for the NHS. They’re going out to work and are trying to fight this coronavirus.
“We said it would be nice to do something for them because they were a massive part of our team.
“Our original target was £1,000 and we literally reached that in the first 24 hours. We then had to up it to £2,000 for the next three days of the race. We are hugely grateful for everyone who has donated already. We only expected to raise a couple of hundred, let alone nearly £2,000.”
Donations are still being welcomed for both fundraisers with further information available on Twitter at @RhinosNetball and @BeckettNetball.