Lanivet Panda netballers, who recently helped supply hundreds of scrub bags, headbands and masks to hospital staff and key workers, are launching a new initiative to raise funds for Bodmin College Netball.

In a challenge set up by lead coach Alec Church, alongside his wife and Panda manager Sam, the group have pledged to record 2,500 miles of sponsored activity connected to a dedicated crowdfunding page in March.
As well as being for a good cause, Alec, a staff nurse at Bodmin Hospital, says he ‘felt a need to bring our club back together and motivate our ladies’ using exercise to help people both physically and mentally, alongside weekly Zoom meetings as well as interaction on Strava and Facebook to help keep spirits up.
“It’s a fantastic initiative and it’s two-fold,” explained Pandas chairman Kathryn Pearn.
“We aim to donate two new netball posts to Bodmin College and inspire our members to exercise. Whether walking, running, cycling or simply shopping or shooting netballs, it all counts.
“This lockdown has been particularly difficult. We’ve members ranging from age 17 to 70 and it’s been so sad watching some losing their mojo and struggling with isolation.
“Drawing everyone back into the Panda fold and helping our local community is a huge motivation.”
Sam, who also works at Bodmin Hospital, quickly realised the initiative could help the local community and said: “I added a fund-raising twist as we love helping our community.
“It seems right that our netball club donate netball equipment to Bodmin College where lots of our children study and many players are former pupils.”
Claire Squires, netball lead at Bodmin College, concluded: “What a fantastic idea, and a good way to stay motivated with fitness during the lockdown. Roll on the green light for getting us back on the courts. We currently run netball from Year 7 all the way through to Year 13 where we have the Academy set up. We’d love help to buy new updated netball posts. Thank you to the Pandas for thinking of us. It’s greatly appreciated and a wonderful gesture.”
To follow, support and/or sponsor the Pandas in their 2,500 mile activity challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lanivet-pandas
The news article can be seen in Bodmin Voice, St.Austell Voice and The Cornish Guardian
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