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10 Years ago, a school friend, Craig Gowans, two weeks after signing a professional football contract with Falkirk FC died tragically in a terrible training ground incident aged just 17 years old.

 To mark the 10^th anniversary of his passing, two squads of 18 players (as well as countless friends and family in supporting roles!) will aim to break the Guinness World Record for the longest ever 11 a side football match – the current record stands at 72 hours! This will be an enormous feat of physical and mental endurance however, a more than fitting tribute to such an outstanding athlete. The venue is Ainslie Park, Edinburgh (home of Spartans FC). We’re hoping to raise £37,000 (the target chosen to match up with Craig’s shirt number of 37) for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation on behalf of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund. 

 The money raised will help fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France. We’re aiming to raise funds for a state of the art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name. This is a calming room with multi-sensory equipment to provide a relaxing and stimulating space, important for children with sensory impairments.

Craig was an immensely gifted individual; a very talented young footballer, a superb academic and a budding young artist. And for me, personally, the fact this event is football related is particularly poignant. Whilst we were friends in school, I got to know Craig best whilst on the football field. Craig was the Captain of the school football team and I was privileged to play alongside him in the centre of defense. Craig was not only a fantastic leader who commanded the game from start to finish, he was an inspiration to watch and learn from and was more than happy to share his knowledge and experience. I am truly honoured to have had the pleasure of knowing him.

 This event is classified as an 'extreme endurance event' and will be the hardest feat any of us will ever attempt. Please help myself, and the rest of the players, reach our goal and continue to use Craig’s name as a force for good

 For more information regarding the event please visit our Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/TCGGWRM and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TCGGWRM37. 

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