Our team is a group of "senior" players wanting to use exercise during the off-season to help raise much-needed funds for the club and in turn increase awareness of mental health issues supporting the charity Mind.

The pandemic has restricted many of us to staying at home, significantly reducing regular face-to-face contact. Exercise is more difficult under these circumstances and together with feeling cooped up there is an inevitable effect on mental health.

Earlswood actively encourage players of all ages and abilities to play cricket. To that end we put out five sides on a Saturday enabling younger players to get their first experience of adult cricket but also giving older players the opportunity to continue playing and passing on their experience as well as getting out and exercising.

Sadly another effect of the pandemic has been to severely reduce the club's bar income over the Summer due to the closure of the Clubhouse. The bar is our primary source of funding and so to enable us to continue the plans for five sides next season we need to find alternative revenue streams.to top up the coffers and ensure we have enough to hire grounds.

The team consists of Bobby Banerjee, Michael Graham, Ian Hughes, Phil McGovern, Kevin Price, Steve Shale, Neil Thorne, Jez Ward and Neale Whitfield. Over the next three months we will be carrying out a virtual 1,000 mile walk/run/cycle from Lands End to John o'Groats with the aim to end up in the far north of Scotland by New Year's Eve to enjoy Hogmanay. We're taking in a few "sights" to give ourselves targets along the way. Every mile we run, walk or cycle will be recorded on an app that can be followed by all to check our progress.

The mission will split the funds raised 75/25 between the club and mental health awareness charity Mind. Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Any donation will be much appreciated so please support us if you can.

If you would like to follow us on this "mission" you can do so on the link https://www.myvirtualmission.com/missions/60216/earlswood-cc-land-s-end-to-john-o-groats

Thank you.