An eager kids’ football team from Solihull has scored a fantastic result for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity after working together to cover 935 miles and raising over £1,000 for sick children.

During the second national lockdown in November, Hillfield AFC’s under-13 boys’ coaches decided that in order to keep the team fit and active while they couldn’t train together, they’d set them a challenge for charity instead – to cover the distance around all the grounds in the team’s league, including their own at Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Club in Portway.

Each of the lads set out to walk, run and cycle their part of the journey around their own neighbourhoods, but once it became clear the team were going to smash their target, the coaches decided move the goalposts and up the distance to include a virtual journey to a namesake team near Fife in Scotland.

Given the choice about which charity to support, the whole team unanimously decided that they wanted their challenge to be in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, drawing inspiration from their own experiences at the hospital, that of their friends’ and the thought of other kids their age undergoing treatment.

Chris Brian, coach and father of one of the players, said: “We knew we wanted to do something that would be fun and engaging for the lads to keep them active during the second lockdown, not only for their physical fitness but for their mental wellbeing too, and they’ve all really enjoyed it.

“Knowing that they’re raising money for such a good cause really inspired them to get involved and put their all into covering their share of the distance, and of course some of them even got competitive too, which spurred them on!”

Miranda Williams, Head of Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Physical and mental wellbeing is so important for children, especially during what has been a difficult and unsettling time, so we absolutely love the concept of this fundraiser! Although the team haven’t been able to play football together, we’re so glad they all enjoyed playing their part in raising such an amazing amount for us. Those funds will go towards helping us do more for the 90,000 sick kids we treat every single year.”

If you would like to donate to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity please click here.