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Kent Cricket backed Bearsted Cricket Club's 1,749km challenge on Saturday in support of Brain Tumour Research

Bearsted Cricket Club smashed their weekend charity challenge.

Members and friends of the club attempted to walk, run or cycle a total distance of 1,749km - a nod to the year the club was formed.

David Vant, Yannick Oakland and Francesca Barrett, Dan Skinner and James Skinner, Mark Hodges, Will Terry, Paul Farbrace and Sandra Farbrace Picture: BearstedCricket (35359895)
David Vant, Yannick Oakland and Francesca Barrett, Dan Skinner and James Skinner, Mark Hodges, Will Terry, Paul Farbrace and Sandra Farbrace Picture: BearstedCricket (35359895)

Infact they ended up covering over 3,000km and in doing so have raised over £7,000.

Money raised is going towards Brain Tumour Research.

Richard Luxton, a member of the club for 25 years, is currently fighting a brain tumour and the current lockdown gave members the chance to get together and come up with a challenge to raise money.

A target of reaching £7,571 has now been set - the combined total of runs (according to play-cricket) scored by Richard and his two sons for Bearsted. They are tantalisingly close.

Collette Preston-Reeves, Stephen Pearce and Benjamin Johnston Picture: @BearstedCricket (35359893)
Collette Preston-Reeves, Stephen Pearce and Benjamin Johnston Picture: @BearstedCricket (35359893)

Kent Cricket lent their support prior to the event, with the likes of Sam Billings and Matt Walker posting videos on social media. England cricket's assistant coach and former Kent coach Paul Farbrace also took part.

Even a couple of their former overseas players, Jordan French and James Tyson, supported the challenge, from Tasmania.

Richard was delighted with the efforts of the club, saying: “The idea was that as a club, instead of playing league cricket, we got together for a charity fundraiser in aid of tumour research.

“The plan was for members of the club to run, cycle or walk a total of 1,749km. That total distance was smashed and I thank all of those at the club who helped organise the event and for the players and coaches at Kent who also helped support it.”

His two sons also now play for the club and he has also been involved in coaching juniors at various age groups over the last five years or so.

He said: "I was diagnosed with brain cancer in the summer of 2018, and to see the club pulling together for this cause which is basically about me, is very humbling and shows the quality of people within the club.

"Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet only receive 1% of the national cancer spend."

Captain Piers Cottee-Jones said: “It’s frustrating that we haven’t got any cricket and we wanted to do something to bring the club together.

“Richard is a valuable part of this club and this is something we have wanted to do for a while.”

You can visit the fundraising page here

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