Swamibapa Cricket Club, operating under the umbrella of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan - Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury (London), held a 24-Hour Cricket Marathon on the weekend of 9/10 December 2017 to raise funds for the worldwide charity, Save the Children. Over 70 participants took part, 25 of them for the full 24 hours, as raised an amazing £15,000. The event forms part of a wider campaign by the Mandir that has so far raised £38,000 and counting.
Special guests Mayor of Brent Cllr Bhagwanji Chohan, Brent Council's leader Cllr Mohammed Butt and Harrow Council's Cllr Ajay Maru were on hand to launch the Marathon. Former England cricketer, Angus Fraser, currently director of cricket at Middlesex County Cricket Club and chief selector for the England cricket team, also joined the event to show his support and encourage the participants.
The Cricket Marathon forms part of a number events organised this year by the Mandir, to raise funds for Save the Children, as part of their festivities to celebrate the 75th birthday of their global spiritual leader, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj. He teaches, "Dedicating one's life to the service of others is the truest celebration of a festival ", and inspired by this philosophy, over 250 members of the Mandir community - some as young as five years old - have taken part in fundraising events throughout the year, culminating in this Cricket Marathon.
In May, over a hundred youngsters, including many first-time fundraisers, took part in the Peppa Pig Muddy Puddles Walk. In June, a team of intrepid swimmers tackled the Great North Swim. One hundred walkers trekked 10-miles into central London in September, shortly before a forty-strong troupe faced the Tough Mudder endurance race. You can find details about the campaign so far at https://www.swaminarayangadi.com/london/page.php?id=3410
The Cricket Marathon attracted sponsorship of Save the Children from local, national and international businesses, including: Jemca Toyota, Andrews Estate Agents, Curtis Engineering Solutions, England and Wales Cricket Board, Kingsbury Fruit and Veg, Vekaria Trust and Burnt Oak Timber Merchants, as well as support from Swamibapa CC's existing sponsors, Vijay construction (Seychelles), Gentex Enterprises (Uganda), NSC media and TNV Construction.
