University of Sussex netball team beats charity target running the length of Britain

The team has so far raised more than £5,000 for charities providing support to NHS staff, volunteers and patients.

Over ten days between Monday, April 13 and Thursday, April 23, the team of students ran 1400 kilometres, the length of the route from Land's End to John O'Groats.

For the teammates, aged 18 to 23, this works out as just under five kilometres per person per day, using their individual hour of daily exercise.

Georgia Lambert and Eve Moseby, who were recently elected as Presidents of the club for 2020-21, wanted to find a way to support the NHS and also keep the team mentally and physically fit during this period of social distancing.

“We were shocked by the positive response and number of girls who said they wanted to partake. We really wanted to give back something to our NHS who are working so hard.”

Four of the team have remained in Brighton, completing their runs on the seafront, in Hove Park and Preston Park. Others are around the UK, doing their bit from Teeside, Cardiff, Devon, Surrey, Hertfordshire and more locations. All are staying close to home and some are using treadmills.

Georgia said, “We think it has really brought the club together. We are all constantly messaging on our group chat and sending in sweaty selfies and motivation to each other and I’m sure we will all celebrate together when we are back in Brighton. We are also using the Strava app to collect the running data and this is a fun way of posting our distances.”

The groups initial target was £500.

Eve said: "A high percentage of the money that came in was from family and friends however there were a number of anonymous and surprising donations, one in particular being from Brunel University’s netball team as we had inspired them to do their own run for the NHS.

"With exams coming in the next couple of weeks we have decided not to do any more commitment style challenge in the coming month. Both Eve and I said in our manifestos when we put ourselves forward for President we want to increase the club's charity work throughout the year and that is definitely something we want to do especially after seeing the success of this so we will definitely be doing some more fundraising in the summer and the beginning of the new season. In the meantime, during this weird time, we have thought of a few challenges for the girls to do that are a bit of fun."

On finishing the challenge Georgia said: "Finishing the challenge was, surprisingly, a bittersweet moment. We thought when the challenge ended we all be relieved and glad it was done but the team spirit that the challenge brought was what made it a bittersweet moment because we all actually really enjoyed it and didn’t want it to end. However we were ready for a rest day.

"To exceed the exception by double would’ve amazing but to get 10x what we originally hoped was to beyond anything we could’ve imagined and was actually a very emotional moment for Eve and I. We are just so grateful for everyone who donated.

"One of our team-mates rolled her ankle with three days remaining however she completed her remaining distance on a bike. We had a lot of sore legs and blisters but nothing too major which we are really happy about considering we still have a new season next year to prepare for, hopefully."

In the past Sussex Netball has fundraised for Australian bushfire relief and coordinated an annual charity tournament bringing different teams together. Although the 2020 tournament has had to be cancelled, the team is inspired to continue raising more money for causes in the year to come.

“This has been a real team effort and we are so proud of all of the girls for getting so involved and committed.”

To find out more and donate, visit Sussex Netball’s JustGiving page.

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