Wales rugby international Ellis Jenkins has launched a challenge to raise funds for a Cardiff charity, while providing fun and fitness to the sporting public.
The Cardiff Blues flanker is an ambassador for City Hospice, the only provider of home-based specialist palliative care in the Welsh capital. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the charity’s fundraising events have been cancelled, prompting Ellis to come up with the idea of the 2020 Keep Up Challenge.
Whereas almost everyone has tried doing keepie-uppies with a football, few have ever tried doing it with a rugby ball. Ellis did, creating the 2020 Keep Up Challenge in which participants are nominated to attempt at least 20 keepie-uppies with a rugby ball.
Ellis said:
It’s not easy. In fact, it’s quite difficult, but that’s the point. I’ve challenged my team-mates Josh Navidi, Rhys Patchell, Dillon Lewis and Gethin Jones to do it. Let’s see how many they can do!
The 27-year-old rugby star would also like to challenge members of the public to have a go at this challenge and donate to the charity. A donation of £20 pays for an hour of nursing care. Every donation, no matter how large or small, adds up, helping the charity care for the people of Cardiff facing terminal illness.
Ellis added:
We’re going to give a few prizes away, such as a signed Welsh team rugby ball to the person who does the most. We’ll also give a prize for the best piece of skill demonstrated and even a prize to the best fancy dressed. Youngsters might want to use a football or even a balloon.
Have a go, donate to City Hospice and challenge three of your friends to do the same.
To support the 2020 Keep Up Challenge, supporters can film their attempts, post on social media and challenge three friends to do the same. Participants are encouraged to tag @EllisJenkins_ and @cityhospice in their tweets and use the hashtag #2020KeepUpChallenge.
Donations can be made to Ellis Jenkins’ Keep Up Challenge page on JustGiving.
Photo: Ellis Jenkins, City Hospice Ambassador
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