Saracens is an organisation which strives to be the best both on and off the pitch. The Saracens Sport Foundation is the charitable arm of the rugby club, taking their values off the pitch and into the community. The Foundation targets the specific needs of the North London and Hertfordshire communities with programmes that often cater to its most socially-isolated groups.
We cover everything from school sport projects, holiday hunger, over-50s dance programmes, prison rehabilitation projects and an incredible disABILITY hub. This work is funded through grants, trusts, corporate partners, individual donations as well as fundraising events. The impact of Covid-19 for charities has been well publicised and unfortunately the Saracens Sport Foundation is no different, with the cancellation and postponement of major charity events which are so important to our unfunded projects such as our disABILITY hub.
However, the Foundation believes it is important to look for opportunities to turn a negative into a positive… and so the 20 for 20 Challenge was born! The 20 for 20 Challenge was initially designed to engage our disABILITY participants who are feeling the impact of this lockdown, reporting a rise in feelings of isolation and a reduction in physical and mental wellbeing, and bring them back together to work towards a collective goal of raising money for their programmes which are at risk due to lack of funding. However, the challenge has now encouraged not just participants but volunteers, staff and our wider community to get involved as well.
The challenge itself is a simple one. In August 2020 walk, push, jog or cycle 20 or 220 miles and raise money for the Foundation. If you reach your mileage goal, you will receive a limited edition Saracens Sport Foundation 20 for 20 Challenge medal. All the money raised will support our disABILITY projects that provide sport opportunities for over 150 disabled young people and adults per week. The programmes also offer vital respite for parents and carers which your money would also help fund. Just for context, £100 could fund our parent respite area for a week, so everything raised will make a real difference for the programmes.
We are so proud of everyone that has joined the challenge so far and we love hearing the stories from our disABILITY participants’ journeys!
One of our participants taking on the challenge is Malik and his mum, Marilyn, planning to walk and indoor cycle 220 miles in a month! Malik joined the Saracens Sport Foundation in November 2018 as part of Sarrie’s RFC – a mixed ability rugby team for young people aged 14-24 with learning difficulties and physical disabilities. Malik is the life and soul of the group, passionate about rugby, and a regular on the mixed ability rugby festival circuit as a part of the Sarrie’s RFC team. He has also started attending Sarrie’s Track Club, our disability running club, which has led to a rise in his fitness levels and social confidence. Malik is a ray of sunshine and we can’t wait to see him, and Marilyn, smash their target this month! (You can see Malik in action in the photo attached to this article!)
The great news is that it is not too late to get involved yourself! Join the 20 for 20 Challenge and help us save our disABILITY hub!
All the details on how to join are below, but any other questions or queries, please email our Inclusion Development Manager, Charlie at CharlieWhite@saracens.net
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20 for 20 Challenge
- Entry into the Challenge is £20
- Enter solo or as a team
- Limited Edition Saracens Sport Foundation 20 for 20 Medal*
- Personalised digital certificate on completion
- Medal dispatched on completion.
Click here to join the challenge click here
