A COMMUNITY is coming together to support a football coach’s epic challenge of running 120 miles without leaving a village.
The distance is equivalent to travelling from Holland Sports Club in Barton-under-Needwood to Wembley Stadium in London.
Jase Rollins, 46, will begin his ambitious challenge in aid of efforts to fund a new clubhouse on 23rd July.
The vice chairman of Barton Rovers FC will run 1.5-mile laps of the village to complete 40 miles daily over three consecutive days and will hope to complete the distance at around 8pm on 25th July.
Jase said:
“For me this is really about making everyone feel part of the campaign and the club.
“The club is a focal point for the village. It brings people of all ages and backgrounds together and most important of all it creates a sense of belonging.
“We’re all stepping up because it needs our help.”
Jase has been encouraged during his training by the residents cheering and clapping him, while supporters have offered to run sections of the route alongside him too.
Children from Thomas Russell Infant School will be decorating Main Street with posters and doing their own sponsored 120 activity challenge, while junior club members are collectively running their own 120 miles to raise funds.
Jase said:
“It’s fantastic that so many children are getting involved because they are the future of the club.
“People have told me it’s inspiring them to get moving too so hopefully we’ll see them at the new club.
“So many people have donated and it’s amazing. We hope that by getting involved and through their donations people will feel invested and connected to the club because it’s for the community.”
To celebrate the achievement, the village will throw a community party at the finish line featuring live music, a bouncy castle, face painting and a BBQ provided by Poms from Barton Marina.
All proceeds from the fundraiser and event will go towards the clubhouse campaign.
The proposals will see new facilities including changing rooms, a physio space, meeting room, larger cafe and bar area, and a state-of-the-art gym.
Fundraising lead, Jodie Hargreaves said:
“The clubhouse was in a desperate situation and in need of urgent repairs in order to keep its doors open.
“The support from everyone has been overwhelming and this mission has now become about building excitement, bringing everyone together and feeling really proud of where we live and what we can all achieve as a community.
“We’d love to see people coming out to support Jase during the run and join the celebration at the finish. We all think he’s utterly bonkers for doing it but we couldn’t be prouder.”
People can donate and find out more about the campaign via the online fundraising page.
