Banbury football club members running and walking 5,000 miles to raise funds for Katharine House Hospice

Members and supporters of the Easington Sports Football Club in Banbury are coming together to walk and run 5,000 miles in seven days to raise money for hospice charity.

Jamie Hunter, the coordinator of the fundraising efforts, knows first-hand about the need to help charities and groups like Katharine House Hospice as he's working on the front-lines for the Metropolitan Police in London.

So far the members of the Easington Sports Football Club and its supporters have raised more than £5,200.

Anyone who like to make a contribution to the fundraising campaign can follow the Just Giving web link here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/esfcrunforkhhClub members, their families and club supporters have run and walked more than 4,070 miles toward the 5,000 mile target. They hope to reach their target by Friday April 24, which is the end of the seven day period.

Jamie said: "I'm currently working as a detective sergeant for the Metropolitan Police on the Pandemic Mutli-Agency Response Teams dealing with the deceased from Covid-19, and have seen first-hand the impact this virus is having on families, communities, the NHS and hospices."

Club members are recording the miles they complete during their daily exercise.

The club hopes to raise vital funds for Katharine House Hospice who have extended their capacity to take the pressure off NHS facilities and deal with Covid-19 patients ensuring that they make every moment matter.

Katharine House Hospice recently became a care centre for people suffering from Covid-19.

With the national coronavirus crisis soon expected to reach its peak in the UK, Katharine House in Adderbury, has rapidly increased its care facility to help cope with the expected urgent need for more community beds in Oxfordshire.

The Katharine House Response Centre became fully operational last week.

The hospice is a charity partner with the football club who also work together for the Santa Fun Run. It is also a charity held close to many of the member's hearts through care provided or some key workers for Katharine House Hospice who are also club members.

Jamie said: "The club has an amazing community spirit and togetherness, which has led to over 250 people taking part, from under 7’s to grandparents, of all fitness levels.

"It’s this spirit and team ethos that has seen the club recognised as an a FA Charter Standard Community Club and the current Oxfordshire FA Charter Standard Club of the Year."

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