Fundraiser Spotlight: Weston RFC U16s

At Letchworth Foodbank, we’re always inspired by the creativity and generosity of our local community and this fundraiser from Weston RFC Under 16s is a fantastic example of both.

We spoke to one of the parents involved in organising the fundraiser to learn more about their efforts and what motivated the team to get involved.

 About the club & cause

Can you briefly introduce Weston RFC and your role?

Weston Under 16s is a youth rugby team, and I’ve been supporting the fundraising efforts as a parent, my son plays for the team.

What inspired you to support the Letchworth Foodbank?

I’d often seen local food bank collection points and wanted to find a meaningful way to support the important work they do in the community.

 The fundraiser

What fundraiser did you organise, and how did the idea come about?

We decided to organise a sponsored walk, but wanted to make it more impactful. The idea was for the boys to carry food donations in their backpacks as they walked, so we could collect both food and financial support at the same time.

The team set off from Weston, where they train, and walked 5km to Avenue Park in Baldock, each carrying at least 5kg. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, the team raised an incredible £1,188.50, alongside 112kg of food donations.

How did your team and the wider community get involved?

The players reached out to friends and family for sponsorship, while parents helped by providing food donations. We were also supported by the wider Weston community, who run a regular food collection for the food bank and kindly allowed us to include some of their donations in the walk.

It really became a full team effort, with players, coaches, parents, and siblings all getting involved.

 Impact

Why is supporting the food bank important to your club?

The food bank plays such an important role in supporting people locally, and we felt it was valuable for the boys to give something back and contribute to a good cause.

What did it mean to see the results of your efforts?

It was amazing to see so many players take part and the level of effort they put in, not just raising money, but physically carrying the food too. Arriving at the finish line in Baldock to cheers and applause from the public and supporters was a really special and memorable moment.

 Encouraging others

What would you say to other clubs thinking about fundraising?

Go for it! It doesn’t need to be complicated. Keeping things simple can be really effective, and you’ll be surprised by how much support you receive.

Any simple tips for running a successful event?

Having someone organised behind the scenes to coordinate everything makes a big difference and helps the event run smoothly.

 Quick-fire

• Fundraiser in 3 words: Rewarding, community, memorable
• Best moment: Hearing the applause from members of the public at the finish line
• One message to the community: Thank you to everyone who supported the team whether through donations, contributions of food, or simply sharing the event. It all played a part in making it such a success.

 Thank you

We are incredibly grateful to Weston RFC U16s and everyone who supported this effort. Their fundraiser is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

If you’re inspired to run your own fundraiser for Letchworth Foodbank, we’d love to hear from you. Every effort, big or small, helps make a difference.

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