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Members of Great Britain’s senior trampoline team including Medway’s Kat Driscoll have smashed their fundraising target after posing for charity.
Driscoll and fellow senior team members have replicated gymnastic forms in creative and inventive ways from their living rooms to raise funds for NHS Charities Together.
They invited others to take part in the challenge and within four days they had already reached their £1,000 target. That has now been increased to £5,000.
Titled #createdonate, it's the first of what will be a series of challenges set by the group of gymnasts for themselves and others to take part in.
Two-time Olympian and current British champion Driscoll, who grew up in Medway and was a member of Jumpers Trampoline Club in Gillingham, said: “I have been completely blown away by the way the trampoline and now wider community have come together to support such a great cause.
“In a time where we can’t all do the things we love we wanted to do something to bring some positivity and community back. We were so inspired by Captain Tom Moore (the 99-year-old who has raised close to £30m for NHS Charities Together) and his story that we wanted to use our platform and time to give back in some way to show our appreciation.
“Hitting our target in just four days makes me so proud of our community and country.”
It’s not too late to take part. Just create a still action shot of your sport at home, nominate your friends and donate to the fundraising page. Photos are being used on social media.
A message on the girls’ justgiving page explains the reasons for what they are doing.
They said: “For most of us in the trampolining community, self-isolating means we are also away from the sport that we love and dedicate so much of our lives to.
“However, this disruption pales in comparison to the sacrifices those working in the NHS are making every single day. Nurses, doctors, paramedics, ward staff, cleaners and every other member of staff putting themselves at risk of exposure are doing so for us. To protect us, to treat us, and, when necessary, to make our passing comfortable.
“They do not get to stay at home with their families away from this pandemic. Their jobs take them to the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 and we want to show our gratitude and help support the NHS.
“By creating fun challenges, we hope to engage our trampoline gymnastics family and our wider communities to keep us connected with each other and our sport.
“We hope that by giving additional meaning and purpose to getting involved with these challenges will help further bond our community and in return, raise more funds and strengthen the NHS.”
Entries to the #createdonate challenge has seen people swinging from bars, bouncing head over heels into the air and tumbling through their houses, all without moving a muscle.
Driscoll’s team-mate Bryony Page, an Olympic silver medalist, said: “I am so excited about the campaign. It’s helped bring our team, trampoline family and wider community together and help raise money for the NHS during this crucial time.
“We thought it would be a fun challenge and we have loved seeing everyone get creative and the incredible images people have posted. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of something bigger than our sport and I feel proud of everyone getting involved and making donations for the NHS.”
