Hampshire grassroots football family asked to complete 5k to raise money for the county’s NHS heroes

Hayling United goalkeeper Chris Clark has set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for the NHS in Hampshire during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Using the Twitter handle @run5k4nhshants, anyone involved in grassroots football are being asked to complete 5k and make a donation via the JustGiving page.

In just a few days, over 50 people have raised over £700.

Clark was given the idea via Sussex-based footballers Kevin Keehan and Scott Kirkwood, who set up their JustGiving page at the end of last month. In less than a fortnight, it has raised over £30,600!

Clark’s JustGiving page states: ‘Whilst we are on lockdown, we are allowed our daily exercise. Being football fans, especially us players, we should be taking advantage of the fact that we can still look after our own health by going out for a run, bike ride or walk, obviously with social distancing in mind.

‘Can we raise money whilst doing this for our NHS and the frontline warriors who are stepping foot in to our hospitals each day.’

‘We’ve suggested Run 5k for the NHS, as the time it takes to do this should fall within the recommended amount of time we are able to exercise each day, as set out by the government.

‘You could be a player, a supporter, the kit man, a referee or the person who works in the tea hut.

‘We would love to see anyone affiliated with one of our great local clubs take part.

‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a representative from each club, raising money, to show how the power of football can unite people and help others at this time of need?!’

Speaking to The News, Clark added: ‘‘I just want to try and raise as much money as we can for our NHS heroes who are battling on the frontline against this virus.

‘The guys in Sussex have absolutely smashed it, so it would be great if the idea could catch on in Hampshire as well.

‘’You don’t actually have to run the 5k, you could walk it, you could ride it, you could crawl it.

‘Hampshire’s a big county - it would be great to see clubs and players from both Portsmouth and Southampton areas taking part.

‘A few of the lads at Hayling have already taken part, and I see clubs like Fleetlands, Infinity and Liss have started as well.’

Visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/run5k4nhshampshire to take part.