A CENTURY-OLD youth club whose vital community work ‘saves lives’ is asking Rugbeians to step up and help raise vital funds.
The Bradby Club for Young People, which had to abandon its usual money-spinning events during the pandemic, is suggesting a Virtual Marathon for people of all ages in the week starting Monday June 7.
Individuals, families, groups or schools can run, walk, cycle, skip, swim, conga – or whatever else they choose – for 26.2, 13.1 or 6.55 miles during the week.
Club volunteers and young people from youth and boxing sessions will all be taking part in support of Bradby.
Supporters Marion and Rex Pogson aim to walk around Draycote Water five times, while club leader John Robertson and Youth Workers Rebecca Thomas and Curtis Banton will be running, cycling and walking various distances throughout the week.
Bradby Trustee Ian Chislett, who has organised the virtual marathon, will be running four miles per day over seven days to complete the marathon distance.
The club has continued to offer support, guidance and activities to young people during the pandemic, either online or in socially-distanced groups, and Youth Workers have kept in touch with young people who are hardest to reach and most vulnerable.
But the club has to raise every penny for itself.
Club leader John Robertson said: “The pandemic has made the club’s existence more important than ever. It is clear that young people continue to need support and engagement throughout this uncertain time.
“Fund-raising events are responsible for a significant amount of income that supports the work we do. We risk now having to use valuable reserve funds which unfortunately decrease year on year.
“Please support our efforts as we try desperately to continue bringing much needed funding to the club. To quote a local councillor, ‘Bradby Saves Lives’.”
The Bradby Club has been working with young people in Rugby for 101 years. Its open-access evenings provide a safe centre for young people aged 8-25, with sport, cookery, residential courses and more. Professional youth workers offer informal education in safe relationships and substance misuse in schools and other clubs.
Bradby won a Queens’ Award in 2004 and a Pride of Rugby Award in 2018.
Anyone who takes part in the Virtual Marathon can let the club know what they are doing, and send funds raised to the club via a Virgin Money Giving webpage.
Contact the Bradby Club at www.bradby.org.uk, on 01788 544344, or by post at Bradby Club, East Union Street, Rugby CV22 6AN.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/zyvwn3xj to send funds, or for more information.
