Teams from Grimsby Borough Juniors have completed a 5-mile walk to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and Lincolnshire FA's '50 for 50' campaign.

The players, coaches, and volunteers from the club walked from Cleethorpes Holiday Park to Cleethorpes Pier. One team completed a sunset walk on Friday 6th October, and then 4 teams completed a sunrise walk on Saturday 7th October.

The club have raised an outstanding £1,200 for the campaign.

Lincolnshire FA, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, launched the '50 for 50' campaign in August - looking for 50 clubs to raise £50 to help reach a goal of £2,500 during the next football season.

Every penny counts and every pound will help fund lifesaving research to beat heartbreak forever. Since BHF was founded in 1961, the number of people who die from heart and circulatory diseases has halved. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together.

The '50 for 50' challenge is an opportunity for clubs to embrace some fun and fundraising, get outdoors and help beat heartbreak forever. 

Mark Crome, Manager at Grimsby Borough Juniors, said: "As a club, the British Heart Foundation is already a charity very close to our heart after the loss of a wonderful grandparent and supporter, to a heart attack. Last year, alongside our sister club Grimsby Borough Girl’s and Ladies, we held a charity match to raise money for a defibrillator which will soon be placed near a grassroots football venue. 

So we jumped at the chance to support the Lincolnshire FA 50 for 50 initiative, and support local boy and friend of our club Reggie whose journey we have followed in recent years. 

Our fabulous kids and many of their parents took to Cleethorpes beach to walk 5 miles either at sunset or sunrise and we’re delighted with the amount we’ve raised from generous family and friends. 

Grassroots teams can often be the ones reaching out for support from our community, so it’s lovely to give something back to such an important charity. I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who organised, joined in or donated.”

Heart and circulatory diseases affect over 7.6 million people across the UK, with 160,000 of those living in Lincolnshire alone. However, many of these conditions are often viewed as unseen or non-life threatening.

The campaign was launched with the help of Reggie Aslin, a six-year-old boy born with a serious heart condition and a passion for football. Reggie and his family also supported BHF’s campaign 'Spotlight On', which aims to shine a spotlight on the number of people living with hidden heart conditions in Lincolnshire and beyond. 

Nick Hanson, CEO at Lincolnshire FA, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to hear of this outstanding achievement from Grimsby Borough Juniors. The amount of money they've managed to raise for the 50 for 50 campaign is astonishing and is clearly an example of the generosity and good nature they have within their setting. The money they've raised for the BHF will help them be better equipped to prevent, treat and manage heart conditions".

Melanie Meik, Community Engagement and Fundraising Manger for Lincolnshire at BHF, added: “I love working in the Lincolnshire football community, there is such love and support at grassroots level. This team set out to raise £50 as part of the 50 for £50 campaign and have raised £1,200. I am blown away by the support from this team, from the players to the families and everyone who supported them on their sunrise walk.

It is particularly special as these under tens are playing football in Reggie’s home town, where the impact of heart and circulatory disease and the need for more life saving and life changing research is right here in Reggies story. I cannot wait to meet them all and say thank you in person”

Clubs and individuals can donate to the 50 for 50 campaign here

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