The support for our #SOSCTD campaign so far has been fantastic, the Newport County AFC have decided to go the extra 'mile' and fundraise for the club with their 'Academy Mile' fundraiser challenge.
The challenge saw academy members come together and take part in the challenge. Academy manager Damien Broad spoke to us about the challenge:
"As an Academy we were looking at ways to get involved with and support the clubs Save our shirt campaign.
"As an Academy we were looking at ways to get involved with and support the clubs Save our shirt campaign.
This then led us to think that if we raised £1 and cycled 1 mile for every player within our Academy system (350), this would be a small way to show our support for the club and the charities.
I and a few of the staff have been partaking in bicycle rides on the weekends for our physical health and wellbeing so this is where the 350 miles for £350 idea came from. We then ran the idea past our Commercial manager Alex Eagle and he loved it so that's where the 'Academy Mile' was born.
The staff who were able to meet in Newport cycled to Rodney Parade on the morning, some from as far as Barry, Sully, Cardiff, Chepstow and from other different areas within Newport. Considering we hadn't seen each other in over 3 months, it felt as though we hadn't been apart, this was probably down to the fact that we've held so many Zoom calls in that time!
Other staff who unfortunately couldn't be in attendance made their contributions from afar and it was brilliant that we had so many members of staff, players and parents get involved and support us from home. It was also brilliant to see that the initial targets we set have been smashed, in total we as an Academy completed an amazing 579.5 miles between us and amassed £855 in donations so far.
The day was a massive success for the Academy and I would like to send a massive thankyou to all the players, parents and staff who got involved, supported us on the day or kindly donated to the cause, it has been massively appreciated.
Its been a very tough few months for everyone and in these times it is important we all pull together to help and support one another and I'm sure if we continue to do so as fans, players, staff and parents the club will be stronger for it."
Head over to @Youth_County to follow the journey of the ride and you can find their JustGiving page here.
Head over to @Youth_County to follow the journey of the ride and you can find their JustGiving page here.