Wolverhampton Sunday League team Pattingham Panthers raised more than £500 for the WalkOnceMore charity.
Panthers were raising money for team member James March, who will be taking part in a 156-mile (254km) run, an ultra-marathon across the Sahara Desert, in aid and awareness of SCI (Spinal Cord Injuries) and WalkOnceMore.
James’ original target was to raise £5,000 but with the help of the charity match, the target has now been smashed, as more than £6,500 has now been raised for him ahead of his race.
The 21-year-old decided to raise money for this charity as his mother suffers from SCI.
He will fly out to Marrakesh to race on March 27 and run across six days.
James will have to face a range of conditions while out there, with temperatures ranging from up to 50C in the day and lows of -2C at night-time.
Panthers captain Lewis Jones spoke about the success of the charity football match.
“It was an absolutely brilliant day, and everyone had such a good time,” said Jones.
“We are immensely proud to be a part of smashing James’ target of £5,000 and it was great to see over 100 people attending the match down at the Old Wulfrunians club.”
The WalkOnceMore charity is a cure research charity that looks to help those who are currently living with the after-effects of SCI as well as those yet to be injured.
“The club as a whole have done nothing but back him and we’ve been so supportive of him,” said Jones.
“We feel like we have been on this journey with him, and everyone is admiring what he is doing, which is not just his teammates at Pattingham Panthers, but his other friends and family that were there at the match who all admire him.
“It is a beautiful thing to see, and we wish him all the best.”
Donations for James’ just giving page can be made in the link below.
