IN BRIEF
THE BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS CHARITY GAME 2021
HOYLAKE RNLI VOLUNTEERS STEP UP TO MAYDAY MILE CHALLENGE
On Wednesday 19th May 2021 , the second ever ' Bowel Cancer Awareness ' Charity game took place at Heswall Football Club between # TeamDDB and UTS Foundation .
The inaugural ' Bowel Cancer Awareness ' game was held in May 2019 at Prenton Park and was arranged after local resident Danny De Brabander (# TeamDDB ) was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer .
Danny was so keen to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer ( which is on the rise in younger people ), and to turn his negative situation into a positive by raising money for local cancer charities . So he decided to use the game he loves , football , as a platform .
Hoylake RNLI volunteers went the distance on Saturday 8 May by completing the RNLI ’ s Mayday Mile fundraising challenge .
It may have been pouring down with rain but that didn ’ t dampen the spirits of the RNLI volunteers , who are used to launching in all weathers . The group of lifeboat crew , tractors drivers and station officials donned their iconic yellow kit as part of their challenge , before setting off to run a mile along Hoylake promenade , around Meols Parade Gardens and crossing the finish line back at Hoylake Lifeboat Station .
The run was organised as part of the RNLI ’ s national Mayday campaign , which this year is asking people to sign up and cover at least one mile in any way they like to raise vital funds .
With nearly £ 10,000 raised from the first event , and so many people going through tough times during COVID19 , Danny and # TeamDDB were keen to arrange a second event once it was safe to do so . With spectators now allowed , the event was a huge success with the sun shining and over £ 3,000 expected to have been raised for the UTS Foundation - a local charity that provides both physical and nutritional support for cancer patients across Wirral and the City Region .
The amount raised from the game , now takes # TeamDDB ' s fundraising total to over £ 55,000 for the local community in just under two years .
Dave McDermott from UTS Foundation said " Thank you to everyone who has supported this event . The money raised will allow UTS Foundation to help support cancer patients and the local community . Also a massive thank you again to Danny and # TeamDDB - unbelievable support yet again , what you are doing locally is fantastic !"
To follow # TeamDDB on social media search for @ Team . DDB
After the busiest year for emergency call-outs in Hoylake RNLI ’ s history , with income falling as fundraising events were cancelled due to restrictions , the Hoylake team decided to step up and complete the Mayday Mile together . They have so far raised over £ 2,000 for the RNLI .
Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Andy Dodd , who took part in the run , said : ‘ The poor weather couldn ’ t stop our crew , whether they ’ re fundraising or saving lives at sea . Well done to all our volunteers who ran the Mayday Mile and thank you to everyone who has donated to this fantastic fundraiser .’
‘ Mayday is a call for help and it ’ s normally RNLI crews answering these calls to rescue others . But this year , with a busy summer on the way , we ’ re asking for your help by supporting the Mayday Mile .’
To find out more and sign up for your own RNLI Mayday Mile , visit RNLI . org / Mayday
You can also still donate to Hoylake RNLI ’ s Mayday Mile runners by visiting their fundraising page at themaydaymile . rnli . org / teams / hoylake-lifeboat-harriers-mayday-miler
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