Bradfield2Istanbul
Bradfield2Istanbul by 30th May
Mileage Tracker: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f9uJqEVtP8fhW4JgVCKVBhNJIqXV-_qt/view?usp=sharing
Strava clubs: https://www.strava.com/clubs/634629?oq=bradfield https://www.strava.com/clubs/631809?oq=bradfield
It was deep into second half injury time. Chelsea V Spurs. Oli Smithson and Mike Palfreyman sat on their respective sofas battling out their 11th game of the day. It was 10am and their hands and mouth already had that coating you get when you eat too many Doritos. Mason Mount stands over a free kick. GOAL. 2-1 Chelsea. Full Time. Mike takes it. As a dejected and frustrated Oli walked over to the sink to wash his hands his mind drifted to the Arthur Dunn Semi-Final Cup game - a game that his team, The Old Bradfieldians, had worked so hard to get to pre Covid-19. A game that if he went into his current condition wouldn’t stay competitive for much longer than the injury time he just played out. Oli knew that his teammates weren’t much better and wondered if there was a way to motivate everyone to stay fit and ready for what will surely be the toughest game of the season.
He declined Mike’s rematch request, a Champions League Final game at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium and instead gave him a call wondering what he thought about getting the team back into optimum shape for the big game and of course the rest of the 2020/21 season. The conversation began slowly as Mike finished off his chilli heatwaves, mumbling as he tried to speak and crunch simultaneously. As one so often does when short on ideas, Mike looked around the room for any kind of inspiration, his eyes eventually coming back to his declined rematch request at The Ataturk Olympic Stadium. He suddenly had it. Lets run there.
‘To Turkey?!?!?’ exclaimed Oli
‘Well kind of’ said Mike.
‘From Rectroy 1, our home pitch, to Ataturk Olympic Stadium is 1848 miles away (it’s unclear how mike knew the exact mileage but for story’s sake, like so much right now, let’s just roll with it) so let’s get the squad together and collectively see if we can run/walk/cycle/swim that distance. The Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Turkey, is where the Champions League Final was meant to be played on the 30th of May before the outbreak of the pandemic so let's see if we can do it before then.
‘I love it’ said Oli.
After discussing this further with the 'gaff' and president of the club we really wanted to use the challenge to raise some money for charity close to the team’s heart.
The Ruth Strauss Foundation strives to further research into rare lung cancers, as well as aiding the patients and their families with multiple levels of support. It’s a charity that like so many, due to coronavirus and cancelled events has lost out on key funding.
We ask for any donations that could be mustered so The Ruth Strauss Foundation can continue to help those that need their support.
Hope everyone is doing okay and sending all the love,
Many Thanks,
Old Bradfieldian Football Club
Mileage Tracker: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f9uJqEVtP8fhW4JgVCKVBhNJIqXV-_qt/view?usp=sharing
Strava clubs: https://www.strava.com/clubs/634629?oq=bradfield
https://www.strava.com/clubs/631809?oq=bradfield
Mileage Tracker: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f9uJqEVtP8fhW4JgVCKVBhNJIqXV-_qt/view?usp=sharing
Strava clubs: https://www.strava.com/clubs/634629?oq=bradfield https://www.strava.com/clubs/631809?oq=bradfield
It was deep into second half injury time. Chelsea V Spurs. Oli Smithson and Mike Palfreyman sat on their respective sofas battling out their 11th game of the day. It was 10am and their hands and mouth already had that coating you get when you eat too many Doritos. Mason Mount stands over a free kick. GOAL. 2-1 Chelsea. Full Time. Mike takes it. As a dejected and frustrated Oli walked over to the sink to wash his hands his mind drifted to the Arthur Dunn Semi-Final Cup game - a game that his team, The Old Bradfieldians, had worked so hard to get to pre Covid-19. A game that if he went into his current condition wouldn’t stay competitive for much longer than the injury time he just played out. Oli knew that his teammates weren’t much better and wondered if there was a way to motivate everyone to stay fit and ready for what will surely be the toughest game of the season.
He declined Mike’s rematch request, a Champions League Final game at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium and instead gave him a call wondering what he thought about getting the team back into optimum shape for the big game and of course the rest of the 2020/21 season. The conversation began slowly as Mike finished off his chilli heatwaves, mumbling as he tried to speak and crunch simultaneously. As one so often does when short on ideas, Mike looked around the room for any kind of inspiration, his eyes eventually coming back to his declined rematch request at The Ataturk Olympic Stadium. He suddenly had it. Lets run there.
‘To Turkey?!?!?’ exclaimed Oli
‘Well kind of’ said Mike.
‘From Rectroy 1, our home pitch, to Ataturk Olympic Stadium is 1848 miles away (it’s unclear how mike knew the exact mileage but for story’s sake, like so much right now, let’s just roll with it) so let’s get the squad together and collectively see if we can run/walk/cycle/swim that distance. The Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Turkey, is where the Champions League Final was meant to be played on the 30th of May before the outbreak of the pandemic so let's see if we can do it before then.
‘I love it’ said Oli.
After discussing this further with the 'gaff' and president of the club we really wanted to use the challenge to raise some money for charity close to the team’s heart.
The Ruth Strauss Foundation strives to further research into rare lung cancers, as well as aiding the patients and their families with multiple levels of support. It’s a charity that like so many, due to coronavirus and cancelled events has lost out on key funding.
We ask for any donations that could be mustered so The Ruth Strauss Foundation can continue to help those that need their support.
Hope everyone is doing okay and sending all the love,
Many Thanks,
Old Bradfieldian Football Club
Mileage Tracker: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f9uJqEVtP8fhW4JgVCKVBhNJIqXV-_qt/view?usp=sharing
Strava clubs: https://www.strava.com/clubs/634629?oq=bradfield
https://www.strava.com/clubs/631809?oq=bradfield
Organizer
Mike Palfreyman
Organizer
England
The Ruth Strauss Foundation
Beneficiary