RUGBY: Burnham-on-Sea RFC raises £3,000 for War Memorial Hospital

The club undertook a fitness challenge over the weekend, with a target of £1,000, and has so far taken in £3,030.

With all rugby activity suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, the club's members took the opportunity to say thank you to Burnham-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital, as well as all NHS staff and key workers.

Club members were asked to run, walk, cycle or row (while adhering to social distancing guidelines) over the weekend, and record them for the Stags' 1,000km challenge.

As it stands, 124 supporters have contributed to the fundraising page, taking the total up past £1,000 - and £3,000!

Burnham RFC's Tim Piper said: "To all that have ran, walked, cycled and rowed, you have been amazing.

"Even our chairman Gilly Hicks, who two years ago suffered a severe stroke, has done a mile a day and kindly donated £100.

"We set out at 8am on Friday morning to hit 1,000km over three days.

"I was sceptical at first if we would hit that target, but by Saturday morning it was reached and since then it's been absolutely smashed!

"Final kms are... 3779.9. Amazing."

CONTRIBUTION: One of the challenge's supporters

Piper said that the money would go towards revamping a dementia-friendly area at the War Memorial Hospital, and added: "As a group of players we came up with this idea over two weeks ago now, and we wanted to do something that would challenge us, keep us fit and also bring us and the community together.

"This has gone way beyond what we thought it would do, and the comments, efforts and general positivity is 100 per cent what we all needed right now.

"We hope after this you continue on your family walks, 10km runs, 50km bike rides and 25km rows to keep yourself active.

"Please keep smiling, staying safe and being strong for each other; we will all be back up the club very soon to start what promises to be another successful season on and off for the whole club."