Tennis club fundraiser success

Determined members of the Town Walls Tennis Club in Shrewsbury were not ready to call game set and match until they'd raised over £4,600 for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.

Their effort on behalf of the local charity included a breathtaking sponsored 24-hour-long tennis marathon which saw four of the club's core players each put in 18 hours' play, with others joining in along the way.

‘We did get a bit delirious by the end of it,’ said 29-year-old Ralph Simpson, a club member for three years, and one of those core players who contributed epic shifts through the night. ‘We got through a lot of bananas and energy drinks,’ he added. ‘Other members came along to support us and give us a bit of motivation.’

In addition to the tennis marathon, the club also raised money through a quiz and a raffle with the grand total amounting to £4,631 for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, which will go to support older people across Shropshire and Telford.

Jan Deane, a player in the ladies and mixed teams and an enthusiastic helper at tennis club events, is also a volunteer for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. Jan volunteers at a day centre and also at our Shrewsbury Walking Tennis Club at the Cathie Sabin Community Tennis Centre.

‘The walking tennis sessions are so much fun,’ says Jan. ‘We get a good number of people coming to play and they really enjoy it, but we could do with some more volunteers to support and encourage the older players.’

‘The sessions are every Tuesday morning and run from 10.00-11.00am, so it's not a huge commitment, just an hour or so each week, and it's very enjoyable. Even if people could just do one session a month, that would be a great help.’

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a walking tennis volunteer, call Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233 123 or email enquiries@ageukstw.org.uk