Monday 25 June 2012

2013 Brighton Marathon

Following on from the successful 2012 Brighton Marathon, we have been offered places for the 2013 event, which will also be televised for the first time.

This year we had 11 CamKids runners who raised almost £10,000 for the charity - a fantastic result. Next year's event will take place on Sunday 14th April 2013 and we are aiming for even more runners.

The minimum sponsorship amount is £500 per runner and we already have a number of people signed up for the event. As an example of how far this money will go, £500 will pay for the running costs of one of our rural schools for a year.

Participants will receive a CamKids T-shirt, Running Vest and Charity Wristbands and will have help in setting up a fundraising page on JustGiving, to make collecting sponsorship money easy.

We have a very short deadline to confirm the places with the organisers. If you are interested, please email: events@camkids.org as soon as possible to confirm your place or express your interest, if you are not sure.

Thursday 21 June 2012

Great North Run 2012

The Bupa Great North Run, the world's biggest half marathon, has now grown to an unmissable experience for over 54,000 runners each year. The course takes in the iconic Tyne Bridge and finishes in the coastal town of South Shields. This year's event takes place on 16th September.

Live music, on course refreshment and thousands of cheering supporters will keep you motivated every step of the way. Many world class athletes have taken on the challenge including local international and winner of the very first race, Mike McLeod as well as some of the most famous names in distance running; Paula Radcliffe and Haile Gebrselassie.

If you are taking part in the event and would like to raise money for CamKids, you can sign up to our special Virgin Money Giving Page for the event or email us for more information.

Monday 18 June 2012

CamKids / qb Football Tournament 2012

Under the blisteringly hot Phnom Penh skies, Cambodia showed the world on Sunday June 10th, how a football tournament should be run. The first annual CamKids/qb Football Tournament was held at the Old Olympic Stadium, and alongside some impressive footballing talent, the day was marked by irrepressible excitement, good humour and happiness.

On the day there was a total of six teams battling it out for glory. Teams from various provinces, Who Will Kompong Chnang, Empowering Youth in Cambodia (EYC) Phnom Penh, New Futures Organisation (NFO) Takeo, Hopeful Association for the Poor (HAP) Kompong Speu, were four of the teams and are all organizations supported by CamKids.

CamKids also invited PPSL, a team of ex pats and Cambodians who train and play every Saturday in Phnom Penh, and another well trained team, comprising of children from 6 different orphanages, represented qb on the day. Some of the players had never been to Phnom Penh before. Some of the players had never worn football boots before. But you wouldn’t have known, from the enthusiasm and spirit, how new this was for many of them.

The stadium looked wonderful, thanks to sponsors qb, the mobile phone company, who had printed hoardings to go around the pitch, adding to the air of professionalism that surrounded the event. Indeed, from a neutral, outsider’s perspective, the professionalism that permeated every facet of the tournament was incredibly impressive, not least because, as is always the case with a CamKids project, no one was being paid.

So it wasn’t just the hoardings, or the wonderful vivid team kits, also thanks to qb, that made the whole event seem so significant, but it was the labours of so many people that made the day such a delight. The referees and linesmen toiled in the thankless heat, the staff from The Eighty8 barbecued satay and cooked noodle salad for over three hundred players and spectators. But so much of the unsung work was done, as ever, by Dom and Benita, who organised every aspect of the day, from arranging sun hats and cold drinks, to Dom’s inspired commentary – the day would have run far less smoothly without their huge efforts.

On the pitch, the teams were surprisingly evenly matched, despite the disparity in experience, and in player size. The new kits looked magnificent, and the pride of the players in wearing them would have brought a lump to the throat of the most cynical football fan.

The Who Will team looked lively and guileful, but in the end NFO won the day, due in no small part to the enthusiasm of their coaching team. Even underdogs HAP acquitted themselves well, defending doggedly and attacking on the break like seasoned pros. The crowd was spirited, enthusiastic and very vocal, and, unlike other tournaments currently going on in Europe, there were no reports of hooliganism. Everyone was just thrilled to be there.

There has to be a winner, and in the end, a tense, hard fought final was won 2-0 by NFO over qb. 3rd and 4th was battled out between Who Will and PPSL, with Who Will the somewhat unexpected victors with another 2-0 scoreline. EYC took 5th over HAP, but only lost one game on the day and had the player of the tournament in their team, who has already had a mural dedicated to him on the wall where they train. HAP, although coming 6th on the day, had never played together before and the story of this team will definitely be the subject of a follow up article.

The point of the day was a simple one: for everyone to have fun, and there’s no doubt that they did. CamKids paid transport costs, not only to bring in the teams from each organisation, but a 50 strong crew, so all the children and carers from the centers could attend. This allowed a great day out for everyone and gave each team a support base and the whole event an amazing, positive and joyous atmosphere. The looks on the faces of the players as they got their medals at the end of the day, and were told they could keep their kit, was worth all the hard work and effort. It’s humbling to stop for a moment and see how the kids respond to something we’re so used to in the developed world, and it was humbling to watch the care and effort put in by everybody involved on Sunday. It was a terrific day, and one everyone should be thoroughly proud of. Roll on next year.

Monday 11 June 2012

THAMES PATH CHALLENGE: Saturday 29 - Sunday 30 September 2012

2012 is an Olympic year for London, and we've an Olympic challenge for all. Starting close to Putney Bridge the Thames Path Challenge is an epic endurance walk against the clock following the unique Thames Path National Trail. Take on the ultimate Thames Path Challenge 100km route to Henley and attempt to complete the challenge within 24hrs – or take on the 50km option with a target time of under 12hrs.

Be part of the challenge which will see hundreds of walkers attempt the course and fundraise for CamKids and other charities. Sign up in teams of friends, colleagues or join as an individual and meet fellow trekkers along the way. It will be a weekend to remember!


Challenge Details:
  • The ultimate 100km challenge - target time under 24hrs!
  • 50km daylight challenge - target of 12hrs!
  • Assemble your own team - tackle the course together
  • Join as an individual - and we'll support you all the way!
  • Replenishment checkpoints along the way
  • Hot food stops @ 50km, 75km, and 100km
  • Fully supported with pace walkers, medics, physios
  • Participant area with training and fundraising resource
  • 50km walk - £50 registration fee + £200 minimum sponsorship
  • 100km walk - £75 to register + £300 minimum sponsorship
Full details of the challenge can be found HERE or email us for more information.

Registration is open until 31 July 2012 - plenty of time to don your trail shoes, plan your training, and start fundraising. If you would like to take up the challenge and raise money for CamKids, please follow THIS LINK. Collecting your sponsorship money is easy, by setting up your own JustGiving Page HERE.