Braishfield Bees YFC continued their support of Romsey Foodbank with a Christmas Fun Run supported by the Bumble Bees section of the Club (u5/u6 boys and girls) and u7s/u11s boys and girls teams, coaches, parents/guardians and grandparents.
Following their support of the Foodbank from proceeds raised at their successful tournament, the Club vowed to support the Foodbank as their chosen local worthy cause and the Christmas Fun Run is the first of a programme to both raise awareness and raise much needed funds for the Foodbank and along with their sponsors they intend this to be a long term project.
Adam Maltby from Chelsea FC Foundation with whom the Club are grateful grassroots football partners – the first club to enter into such an arrangement with Chelsea FC Foundation (the Community and charitable arm of Chelsea FC) – started off proceedings with a much needed warm up routine on a very fresh Saturday morning.
The Club also wish to thank Ben, Nick and the Team at Test Valley BC for the use of the Ganger Farm facility and Romsey Park Run for the use of their start /finish markers.
Braishfield Bees YFC raised £1874 from the run and raffle and cemented their position as a true Community Club having raised over £2,500 for the Foodbank in the last 4 months. The money has already been transferred to the Foodbank for much needed Christmas provisions, ahead of a presentation in the New Year.
The Club have now committed to make the Christmas Fun Run an annual event and have, also added an Easter Egg Hunt to their calendar of fund raising events for the Foodbank.
The Club will also be placing food donation bins at Mountbatten School and Ganger Farm and the clubs sponsors have agreed to do the same in their offices in the New Year. Main Club sponsor David Wilson Homes ensured that all the money raised went to the Foodbank by covering the cost of a medal for each participant.
Ian Bates, Club Chairperson, was quoted as saying “The fact that a local grassroots youth football club feels the necessity to support a local Foodbank is a sad indictment of the society we live in. It is the 21st century, and no one in the UK should have to rely on a Foodbank for life’s essentials. We understand that 150 Romsey families used the Foodbank last week and this fantastic cause manned by volunteers need our support more than ever. I would particularly like to thank Claire Davison, who was the driving force behind the event and whose passion has ensured that the Club can help as many local families as possible. This could effect any one of us”
Sim Dendy from Romsey Foodbank added “As we are experiencing a cost of living crisis as a nation, it is encouraging to see local community groups, such as Braishfield Bees YFC, give so generously to help other people this Christmas. The work of Romsey Foodbank, part of our Freedom Matters programme would not be able to help the families that it does, without the incredible generosity of local people. Thank you to Braishfield Bees YFC and all your families for your incredible support”
If you want to contact the Foodbank for assistance or to donate, their address is:
Romsey Foodbank
Freedom Centre
Unit 6, Greatbridge Business Park
Budds Lane
Romsey
SO51 0HA
Tel: 07761 405 870