Whilst covid gave hockey the red card during the 2020/21 season, the Adders turned our energy instead to a positive fundraising activity which has now paid off for our local community.

The Adders ‘Move It in March’ challenge threw down the gauntlet to club members to get sponsored to walk, run and cycle across the month of March to raise fitness levels and funds for the community in Atherstone. The result was 117 members of the club walking, running and cycling for 31 days clocking up 7,770 miles, moving for 1,462 hours and raising £1,000 for The Queen Elizabeth Academy in Atherstone.

Every Adder participating in the challenge also represented their usual on pitch team adding to the element of interclub competitiveness. After 31 days of activity, top of the leaderboard were the Adders Mens 1st team achieving a team distance of 1,997 miles covered, closely followed by our Junior section who covered 1,228 miles. Top individual performances were achieved by Simon Thompson who covered 563 miles across 60 hours of activity followed by Benjamin Holder, Stuart Batchelor and Dave Smith. Taking the top spot for Adders women was Gemma Bates who clocked up 281 miles and achieved an overall 5th club place.

With covid restrictions now removed, we were delighted to now present TQEA with a cheque for £1,000 donation which has been used by the school to fund literacy activity.

Commenting on the donation Neil Harding, Principle of TQEA said: “We are very grateful to Adders Hockey Club, Atherstone for their generous donation. The money has been used to purchase a book vending machine and stock it with contemporary and classical literature for student awards. Literacy is the greatest way that young people can close the gap and beat social disadvantage. This donation will do much to support the young people of Atherstone.”

Chairman of Atherstone Adders Hockey Club Joseph Kobrin added: “Our Move It in March challenge was about using sport to get us through the tough times of covid, keeping our minds and bodies busy and helping our local community in the process. All at the club have been pleased to hear our fundraising has helped TQEA fund their literacy activity which we know in particular will help give young people access to new inspiring reading content which in turn will improve life chances of local children.”