Students, their families, and the team at Velocity Football are taking part in a national campaign to keep active this month to raise funds for charity via Red January.
Red January is a community initiative that encourages people to support a chosen charity each January by doing something active for each of the 31 days in the month.
This year, funds raised will be donated to Sport in Mind – a mental health charity with ties to Velocity Football thanks to our partner Ignite Sport UK’s close working relationship with the organisation via the delivery of activity sessions.
Sport in Mind was formed in Reading, Berkshire, 11 years ago with a mission to improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity.
To date, the charity has supported the recovery of more than 12,500 people from all backgrounds – some of whom never enjoyed participating in sporting activities prior to their involvement with Sport in Mind.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at Ignite Sport UK and Velocity Football have been unable to deliver sessions to people via Sport in Mind in recent months. But as an alternative way of supporting the charity during lockdown, Velocity Football students are collectively running 250 miles each week using Strava.
To test themselves even further, female students have decided to test themselves even more this week by clocking 300 miles between them.
Velocity Football coaches and tutors are joining in with the fundraising efforts too and have set additional tasks for students that are keen on going the extra mile to complete.
Justin Merritt, director at Velocity Football, said: “Sport in Mind is an excellent charity that uses sport to help improve the lives of others and we share similar values. Due to the pandemic, we are currently unable to deliver sessions with the charity. Therefore, taking part in Red January was the perfect way to support them and give something back.
“Our students and colleagues have embraced it and are contributing some impressive activity. It is an excellent way to everyone engaged and active and hopefully to inspire others to take up physical activity and enjoy the wide-ranging health benefits it can bring.
“We all look forward to returning to our base at Oxford City FC soon, but in the meantime challenges like this are invaluable in maintaining our fantastic team spirit. I’d like to thank everyone who is taking part and donating, your generosity is helping to make a real difference to people’s lives.”
To pledge your support to Sport in Mind via Red January this month, visit: www. redtogether.co.uk
