A Leicestershire netball club have taken on a gruelling netball challenge for charity – smashing the world record for the number of goals scored in 24 hours.
Ashby Netball Club, took on the challenge last weekend for ‘Kids Village’ – a charity which helps children with critical illnesses.
Over a period of 24 hours, the team managed to score over 28,745 goals, doubling the current world record of 14,280.
Although it is yet to be verified by Guinness, organiser Carla Garey hailed it an “unbelievable achievement.”
“The support and team spirit from every single member of the Ashby Netball Club has just been phenomenal and I am so very grateful for every person who gave up their time as part of the 24 hour marathon,” she said.
“The time seemed to fly by, and when we reached the world record just as we reached midnight on the Saturday night, exactly at the half way point, this was a massive turning point. We knew we would reach the record, but what we didn’t know we would not only beat it, but double it, what an unbelievable achievement!”
As a result of the challenge, which took place at Charnwood College, £19,509 has been raised for the Kids Village, a respite holiday charity for children with critical illness.
It was an idea inspired by Carla’s two-year-old daughter Evelyn.
Within hours of her birth, she was fighting for her life in neonatal intensive care after being born with a rare condition called Hirschsprung disease.
She had a nine hour major operation to remove 2/3 of her bowel at just three months old.
“Once again, we were in hospital and living day by day, praying our daughter would survive and come home to her loving family,” revealed Carla.
“We have met so many families during our time in hospitals with Evelyn and can see how difficult it is for all families to manage childhood illness.
“So we wanted to help and use some of the motivation I see in my daughter every single day through all her struggles and all the uncertainty of what’s to come in her life and the life of so many other children.”
Handing over the cheque to the Kids Village representative was an “incredible feeling,” she said.
“I couldn’t be any prouder!”
You can still donate to the cause by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/breaking-a-world-record-to-help-the-kids-village
