Life Leisure take on 24-hour challenge for Stockport’s isolated individuals

Staff at Stockport’s Life Leisure are taking part in a 24-hour walking challenge to raise money for a local charity helping individuals struggling mentally and physically with isolation.

Staff from the fitness chain will be taking part in a 24-hour walking challenge in support of Street Soccer Academy (SSA) which has been hit hard by Covid-19 restrictions. The challenge, which starts on Friday 26th June at 11am is part of the Lockdown-24 campaign.

The event has been set up to replace a key fixture in the charity’s fundraising calendar, a 24-hour charity football match usually held Life Leisure’s Holdsworth Village.

As well as each participating team member pledging to walk six hours before they ‘hand the baton’ over to a colleague, every hour participants will take part in a specific sporting or fitness challenge suggested by anyone donating to the cause.

Life Leisure Group CEO Malcolm McPhail said:

We’ve worked in partnership with SSA since 2009 so we know the amazing job they do using sport to help rehabilitate and reintegrate those who really need our collective support – from the homeless, unemployed, and ex-offenders to those struggling with addiction, disability and mental health issues.

“Over the years that partnership has evolved. Houldsworth Village has become the venue for the Stockport SSA, with Life Leisure also funding places on the programme, helping individuals gain qualifications and providing access to gym facilities for programme participants.

“So, when this year one of their biggest fundraising opportunities looked under threat because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we knew we wanted to help.”

The Stockport fitness provider is asking members of the public to donate and suggest specific challenge activities by visiting their Virgin Money page, and to follow the team’s progress in the 24-hour walk via its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts from Friday 26^th June at 11am. 

All proceeds raised will go towards SSA’s Lockdown-24 campaign. 

Malcolm concluded:

By supporting Lockdown 24, we hope we can help raise such a great cause some much-needed funds and also that our partnership with Street Soccer Academy will continue long into the future”.

Image: Life Leisure’s Seb Rowe (L) and Ruth Lynch (R), pictured with a Street Soccer Academy shirt, are gearing up for the 24-hour Challenge