Chris Rowe, from Billericay in Essex, had just completed his first season as a youth football coach at Forest Glade FC when he began to think of creating a brand new charitable event. The Londondribblethon was born.
On 19th September 2009, Chris will be dribbling a football 26 miles from Forest Glade's home ground at Barleylands, Essex, to West Ham's Boleyn stadium culminating with him running out onto the pitch to an awaiting West Ham player just before the start of their match against Liverpool.
The aim is to raise over £10,000 in aid of Richard House Children's Hospice and Forest Glade Football Club. 75% of monies raised will go to Richard House to help them to continue providing respite, palliative and end of life care for terminally ill children. The remaining amount will go to his club to help them towards attaining the FA's Charter Standard Community Club status. They can achieve this by increasing their engagement with the local community through the affiliation of at least one girl's team to the FA and developing a plan for the provision of football for disabled children.
Not only will the initiative aim to raise much needed funds for both organisations but it is hoped that the young players will be made more socially aware and responsible demonstrating to the wider community that it's not just professional football clubs that can work with and support charities.
The Londondribblethon aims to reach its target through the personal sponsorship from Chris' friends, family and work colleagues but also through corporate sponsorships. Companies have been invited to sponsor a patch on the supporters football which features on the homepage of londondribblethon.org.uk. The site also features a Free Prize Draw with the chance to win a 3 day coaching course for 2 donated by The David Beckham Academy or the latest England top donated by Umbro.
Forest Glade have already held their own Dribblethon and 140 young players (age 7-13) dribbled a combined distance of 150 miles and raised over £1000.
"This year we are laying the foundation stone," said Chris Rowe. "My long term goal is to create a much broader event involving as many youth football clubs as possible and turn this into the football equivalent of 'Race for Life'."
Want to know more about Chris and how you can follow his progress? Goto Meet Chris
