PEOPLE walked a total of 450 miles around a historic Flintshire cricket club in a fundraising effort for a new pavilion.
Hawarden Park CC held its 'Big Challenge' over the weekend - which saw people walking or running continuously around the boundary between 6pm on Friday and 6pm on Sunday.
The club moved from its base of more than 140 years within the grounds of the Gladstone Estate in 2016.
The club relocated to a beautiful site on Moor Lane, but now want to replace the current portable cabins with a stunning new pavilion.
Full planning permission for the new facility has been approved by Flintshire County Council.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed to fund some of the build but the club still needs to find additional funding to complete the project.
‘The Big Challenge’ was a non-stop challenge to cover the distance from the Moor Lane ground to Lord's Cricket ground – the spiritual home of cricket – and back.
People got up in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday to ensure that the challenge was continuous. And not only did they cover the distance to Lord's and back - they did so to Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester and back.
Participants as young as five were involved, as well as local MP Mark Tami and Senedd Member, Jack Sergeant - who completed the first lap of the challenge.
Club chairman, Richard Penney, said: “We can’t put into words how much the support means to us as we push to build the pavilion which will be open to not just our cricket members, but to all of our community.
"We may have been there to bring us home, but to all our members and supporters - what a team performance.
"I’ve seen and heard of friendships being made and renewed and exaggerated tales of cricketing achievements - but what stands out for me is how this ‘Walk in the Park’ has brought a real spirit of togetherness. We had first team players doing laps with our All Stars and Dynamos - just chatting and laughing together. It was brilliant to see."
The thriving club boasts one of the biggest junior sections in North Wales, and attracts hundreds of children on Friday nights for its All Stars and Dynamos participation sessions. It also has the only women's hardball team in North Wales, and four senior teams.
Richard added: “This is our fifth year at our new ground, during which time our club has grown exponentially due to the fantastic training and playing facilities we have created.
“We now urgently need to complete the infrastructure of the club by building a pavilion so we can move forward in our development.
“This year we are also creating a woman’s and girls softball team to provide a pathway for ladies in our area.
“We provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming community facility which includes hosting school sports days, we hope that we can strengthen our community ties by opening the pavilion to other organisations to create a sustainable and diverse venue for all.”
The club has raised an estimated £4,000 - with some sponsorships yet to be added to the total.
People wishing to make a donation towards the club's pavilion fundraiser can do so via https://localgiving.org/charity/hawarden-park-cricket-club/
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