Police take on epic football trip for Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Officers from South Yorkshire Police are embarking on an ambitious road trip to raise £25,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Jamie, Scott and James with Sheffield Children's Hospital mascotJamie, Scott and James with Sheffield Children's Hospital mascot
Jamie, Scott and James with Sheffield Children's Hospital mascot

Detective Inspector Jamie Henderson, Sergeant Scott Sarson and PC James Thorpe aim to visit 92 football grounds across the country in 92 hours.

They will set off from Barnsley in July, travelling an estimated 2,400 miles by car, before arriving in London to take to two wheels and ride their bikes between the capital’s football clubs and end their challenge at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.

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DI Henderson said: “There’s 92 grounds, so we thought 92 hours would create the perfect symmetry for the challenge. We usually go on obscure summer holidays together, but this year I thought ‘why not do something a bit different’ and Sheffield Children’s Hospital is a fantastic motivation for something that even we admit is ambitious.”

The money raised will go towards the redevelopment of the children’s hospital cancer and leukemia ward, which treats children from babies to 19 year olds.

It is part of a wider appeal to improve facilities for patients, including the creation of private rooms, isolation wards and a larger classroom.

Sgt Scott Sarson, whose daughter Lydia was born with a heart defect, said: “For the first few years of her life, we had countless trips to Sheffield Children’s Hospital and although it was the hardest time in our lives, it was made bearable by the fantastic staff and facilities.

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“We are so lucky to have the hospital on our doorstep and this is part of us saying thank you and making sure that other families and children can benefit the way we certainly did.”

PC James Thorpe said: “We’re going to be eating and sleeping in that car – it’s going to a very tight squeeze. Whether we will be friends by the end of it I’m not sure, the planning process alone has tested our friendship and patience. Planning the route has taken days of studying maps.

“The scariest thing though is not reaching our fundraising target, so please donate if you can, the cancer and leukemia ward appeal is such a fantastic cause.”

Abbie Pervin, regional fundraising manager at the Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “We’ve just launched our biggest-ever fundraising appeal, and a transformed Cancer Ward has never been more needed as we strive to build a better future for the hospital.

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“Jamie, Scott and James’ fundraising will make a difference to young patients who come from across South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire and depend on our hospital’s excellent care.”

The trio will set off from Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley on Friday 12 July at 8pm and will end their challenge on Tuesday 16 July at Bramall Lane at 4pm.

You can donate by going to their JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ninetytwo-in-92 

Follow their progress on Twitter or Instagram by searching 'ninetytwo-in-92'