Football Team’s Fundraising Touchdown

Members of a Coventry-based flag American football team who challenged themselves to walk over 30 kilometres have raised over £3,170 to support our sick kids.

Nine players from the Coventry Panthers team swapped their football boots for walking boots for the challenge, which saw them get sponsored to tackle the distance from our hospital on Steelhouse Lane, to their training ground at Earlsdon Rugby Club in Coventry.

It was all part of the team’s annual fundraising efforts, which also included ‘Pantherbowl’, a 17-team tournament of 40 games played between both flag American football teams from across the UK, with one team joining then from as far as Wales. This year, the Coventry Panthers chose to support us, having been inspired by team-mate Alice, whose little boy has received care at our hospital since he was born.

On the day of the Coventry Panthers’ challenge, heavy rain was forecast but they didn’t let it phase them and instead, they donned their waterproofs and embraced the rain. Team-mates Laura, Alice, Cara, Caitlin, Lucy, Olaia, Hannah, Maisie and Abby, set off with the our iconic red balloons attached to their back packs, they weren’t going to let a little thing like the weather dampen their spirits! At the halfway point, the nine walkers stopped and met with other team members for a well-earned lunch and much appreciated change of dry clothes.

After eight hours of walking, the team finally reached their training ground and they were greeted by their family and friends, who cheered as they crossed the finish line.

Laura, Coventry Panthers committee member, said: “So many of our team hold Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity close to their hearts so we wanted to take on a challenge that really linked our club to the hospital, so we thought why not make the journey ourselves?

“It was an incredible day of team bonding and we are so proud of what we have achieved but we’d also like to thank all the volunteers who made Pantherbowl possible, and to everyone who donated to our fundraiser. We’re so proud to see this money go to such a worthy and incredible cause.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The Coventry Panthers must have been so proud of themselves when they ‘touched down’ back at their training ground after such a mammoth challenge.

“We’re blown away by their dedication, especially walking through the rain, and their fantastic fundraising total will go a long way towards helping us do more for the 100,000 sick kids our hospital treats every year.”