Maldon Hockey Club smashes Torch to Tokyo challenge goal!

The club has raised over £2,000 in aid of the refurbishment of the Farleigh Hospice Project in Mill Road, Maldon! The new Farleigh project is less than one mile from the hockey club’s training ground. The new site will provide support the Maldon and Dengie communities, the same communities that form the club’s membership base. This coupled with the fact that some members have had personal experiences of the services that hospice provides, makes Farleigh an important cause to the club’s fundraising committee.


The collective effort of running, walking, cycling, scooting and even horse riding was undertaken by members of every section of the club from the youngest juniors aged five and up through to seniors. Participants moved in any way that worked for them, some braving the snow and rain to get outside and run, walk or cycle and others opting to move indoors on exercise bikes and rowing machines.


The youngest participant in the challenge is just five years old and the oldest, Merle Pipe is 79. Merle took part in the challenge while shielding at home on her exercise bike. Clocking up the miles by cycling every day at home from early January to the 8th March.


Lead Coach and L2 Captain at Maldon Hockey Club, Karen Wells said: “We know that fundraising has been hard during the pandemic and that Farleigh’s Maldon project needed to raise funds and we wanted to do something to help. We not only needed a reason to get out and move during this latest lockdown, but we also needed something that would keep us all connected. As Team GB are set to compete in the Men’s and Women’s hockey competition in the Tokyo Olympics this year, we thought it’d be a great idea to cover the distance from Maldon to Tokyo by moving in any way we could to raise money to help the hospice.


“The challenge did so much more than raise money, it brought us together in a time where we couldn’t meet up physically. We’re used to being part of a team and this was such a positive way for us all to stay in touch as it wasn’t just the sport we missed, it was each other. It has been really important for us to stay connected with each other during the pandemic - some of us have been friends for over 20 years having met through hockey and it wasn’t until we went into the first lockdown last year that we realised how integral to each other’s lives we all are! We got quite competitive amongst our teams too, which was great because we spurred each other on to achieve over and above our original target. I am so proud of what we have accomplished! At first, we didn’t think we could even cover the distance from Maldon to Tokyo, so being able to cover the distance there and back again is a brilliant achievement.”


Debbie de Boltz, Fundraising Manager at Farleigh Hospice said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Maldon Hockey Club for their amazing fundraising efforts! This is great example of a community group coming together during a difficult time to not only do something to raise money for a good cause, but to do something for them, helping them stay active and in touch with their team mates.”


“Our new site in Maldon will enable us to more effectively support the Maldon and Dengie communities. We are reliant on community support like that of Maldon Hockey Club to complete this project. We really appreciate the fantastic efforts of the members of Maldon Hockey Club in completing their Torch to Tokyo Challenge which has raised so much to help us.”


The Club’s fundraising page will remain active until the 14th March so there is still time to donate, just click here!



Want to help?

Visit our fundraising page www.farleighhospice.org/fundraise to find how you can start fundraising for Farleigh Hospice and help support people in our community affected by a life-limiting illness or bereavement.