I was introduced to the Kings by my good friend Jen, whose company is one of the club's sponsors. From the first time I went to watch them play I was hooked on their friendliness and enthusiasm.
(Me, Jen and Gary! ☺️)
Although I am not a member of the Colchester Kings, (and I definitely don't play rugby!) I am a supporter and I do enjoy a good walk. Therefore it makes complete sense for me to join them on this walk to raise funds for the club. I go to the matches whenever I can and they have accepted me with open arms even though I am not a part of the LGBTQ+ community. They are a fantastic crowd and are doing something really special. Please donate whatever you can, no matter how small and let's raise that £3000!!! THANK YOU!
Here is some background info on the KINGS:
Colchester Kings are the first gay and inclusive rugby team in East Anglia. Founded in June 2022, they are pushing the boundaries of team sports in the East of England and welcome a membership of over 100 in their first 2 years.
We're crowdfunding to ensure that the club has a future, a place for people to get involved in team sports regardless of who they are. The 3 main goals are:
- To prevent social isolation by providing a safe and welcoming environment
- Get more LGBTQ+ people to join in team sports
- Assist those who are financially vulnerable to ensure they can play
Colchester Kings is a volunteer-run community organisation and although they save by having a voluntary group of people run the club, there are still expensive overriding costs that they accept the burden of to help keep the team accessible to all members of the community.
This year their big fundraising event is a sponsored walk - 25KM for KINGS, and we hope to raise £3000 that will contribute to the running of the club. With these funds, they aim to:
- Provide bursary places in the 24/25 season for those who are financially vulnerable.
- Continue to provide top-quality facilities for the team to train at throughout the year.
- Purchase medical supplies for the team that help prevent injuries.
- Help cover the entry costs for upcoming tournaments to develop players' skills
By removing some of these barriers, they are able to engage more people in the team and welcome more Kings to the pitch.
To reach the fundraising target they are asking members to take part in a sponsored walk - 25km for KINGS. We'll be working with Outdoorlads (another community organsiation) who will lead our walk and give us the expertise that we need to complete our goal.
#allhailthekings