On 16th April 2020, the UK Government extended the current coronavirus lockdown for at least the next 21 days. This will have a significant impact on us all, but is of particular concern to The Shakespeare Hospice. At a time at which their nursing teams are going above and beyond the call of duty to care for and protect some of the most vulnerable members of society, the Hospice is expecting to lose 80% of the income that it needs to operate.

We wanted to do something to help and have come up with a cricket-based challenge to tie in with The Shakespeare Hospice's 21 Challenge appeal. My son is a wicketkeeper at Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club and will be completing 250 catches per day in our back garden for the next 21 days. We reckon that this will total up to the number of catches that a wicketkeeper would take over 5 Test matches.

Many amateur cricket teams charge their players a match fee to cover the costs of umpires, cricket balls, teas etc and we are hoping that fellow cricketers will be able to support The Shakespeare Hospice by donating these fees for any matches cancelled due to coronavirus.

Many thanks for your support!