Dunmow United football friends take up sponsored running to help get PPE to frontline health workers
Frankie Hobbs - Credit: Parent Sue Hobbs and coach Scott Forbes
Two football friends have taken up sponsored running in lockdown and the funds are being used by one of their football coaches to supply PPE to help health workers.
Ayden and Frankie. Picture suppied - Credit: parent submission
Frankie Hobbs, 13, and Ayden Saltmarsh, 12, both normally attend Forest Hall School in Stansted but met through Dunmow United.
Midfielder Frankie lives in Lindsell while Ayden lives in Takeley.
Frankie’s mum Sue Hobbs said their usual football was off during lockdown but her son wanted to help when he heard Scott was sourcing and donating supplies.
Sue shared the information about the sponsored running and GoFundMe page with their football group and Ayden said he wanted to get involved as well. The boys run separately but share their progress.
“Frankie has gone from not being a runner as such to running between seven and 10 kilometres a day.”
She added: “They are running all over the villages where they live, covering miles. The lovely thing is where we are, people are beginning to wave at him and acknowledging him.”
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Sue said they were beeping at him from cars and waving, and the support was lovely.
“The generosity of people is unbelivable,” she added.
Their original target was for each boy to raise £100 but within 19 hours tey had already raised £350. They have now raised over £1,000. Coach Scott Forbes from Great Bardfield said he donated around 100 pairs of nurse goggles he had for his parties business to local nurses. He then wanted to do more as he said PPE is still very much needed.
Scott has concentrated on areas around Stansted to help with PPE. He added: “The boys are up to 50 kilometres, they are doing really well. I’ve said to Sue I’m going to do some online stretching for them.”
Their fundraising link is:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/frankie-and-ayden-run-for-ppe?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
