Fans thanked for efforts so far

Hundreds of pounds have already been donated by generous supporters to give more disadvantaged children a sporting chance in 2017 since bucket collections starting circulating at matches at the start of the month.

Using #donateapound on social media to help mobilise friends, families and local communities, the 'March Mission' has seen fans making £1 voluntary donations to support the charity’s latest initiatives led by the ‘Wheel Power’ programme to provide wheelchairs for more disabled young people.

Sports Traider's Martin Keech isn't surprised by the response after helping to collect a mountain of unwanted kit and sports equipment from last year's Easter Kit Amnesty during their inaugural season as the official charity of the EVO-STIK NPL.

Keech said: "I would just like to send a huge thank you to all those clubs and their supporters who have already participated since the start of the month in our Sports Traider Donate £1 campaign. Your efforts are gratefully acknowledged and everyone at Sports Traider is delighted with the results so far.

"Every £1 collected is going towards helping the disadvantaged and disabled children in the community to participate in sporting activities so thank you to every one of the league's clubs and fans for giving so generously as every £1 makes a difference."

With Sports Traider funding 40 bursaries for students at the NPLFA again this season, youngsters from the EVO-STIK NPL’s ground-breaking league-wide academy are also taking part with their own mini fundraising campaign.

Sports Traider was founded in 2009 in Bedford by Lance Haggith, the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero winner, to help UK youngsters discover and fulfill their sporting potential, whatever their background, ability or disability.

Apart from their growing number of permanent collection points and recycling banks around the country for unwanted sports kit and equipment in strategic locations and links with schools and sports centres, Sports Traider also works with local sports brands and retail outlets who are invited to donate surplus, end-of-line or seconds stock directly.

As well as being recycled and distributed locally, the donations are sold in the charity’s nationwide retail outlets with the money generated then re-invested into grassroots sport for disadvantaged children and young people.

For more information, visit the home page and click of the Sports Traider button. Alternatively, visit the charity’s site direct at: www.sportstraider.org.uk

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