Kettering rugby players go above and beyond for KGH

Some of Kettering's rugby stars of the future clocked up thousands of miles and climbed thousands of metres to raise money for KGH.

In previous years players, parents and representatives at Kettering Rugby Football Club have bought Christmas gifts to give to the hospital's Skylark Ward for children, but coronavirus has meant they haven't been able to in 2020.

Instead, during the second national lockdown each junior team at the Waverley Road side, from Under 6 through to Under 15, were set the task of clocking up enough miles to get to Twickenham and back by walking, running or cycling a total of 198 miles.

Not only did every team hit their target but between them they travelled 4,402.8 miles - smashing the total they were aiming for.

Under 11 manager and Minis chairman Wes Easter said: "I am immensely impressed with all the teams and their achievements, their ability to adapt and their team spirit. "

One team, the U10 Cobras, also set themselves a challenge of climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest by climbing their stairs at home.

Again, needing to climb 8,849m, they beat their target over two weekends - climbing a total of 9,264m.

In both of these challenges the players were asked to raise money through sponsorship to go towards a Skylark Christmas wishlist they were given, which totalled £1,000.

But through their fundraising efforts they raised more than three times that amount, and have since handed over a cheque for £3,685.80.

Wes, 42, said: "I never dreamed we would raise that sort of money."