Whilst the majority of cricketing Englishmen were shivering in the cold this January our very own Chris Wright undertook and completed a 350mile charity bicycle ride through Orissa in North East India to which many of us provided much needed sponsorship. Knowing how cricket bonkers Indian schoolchildren are, Chris went through the West XI kitbags and with a bit of help from other contributors, took with him to India all the surplus pads, bats, balls, gloves and general paraphernalia which had been accumulated over the years. The kit was distributed to 3 separate schools en route and as you can see from this video clip the children were excited to say the least and the reception quite overwhelming. This simple gesture made a lot of kids very happy indeed and everyone in the club can be very proud.

 

 

Previously unreleased footage of the visit. 

Note the characteristic wayward bowling.

 

Orissa is one of the poorest states in India and the schools he visited made quite an impression as classrooms were bare with the children sitting on the floor and no blackboards or teaching aides which we all take for granted here in the UK.

 

The bike ride` raised over £40,000 for leprosy, TB and HIV treatment but the simple gesture of distributing second hand cricket kit to schools in poor areas has mean't that Chris is considering organising something similar over the next 12 months.

 

If you, or anyone you know, connected to a cricket club, has any cricket equipment currently unloved, unused and growing mouldy in the corner of a garage but still too good to throw away then hold onto it as we might be able to put it to a very good use. Chris will be talking to clubs on the London social cricket circuit throughout the next few months with a view to collecting towards the end of the season and it is the intention to attempt a similar project next year but on a larger scale.

 

If you'd like to discuss this project with Chris then please contact him on:

 

 

Mob: 07702 747742

email: wrightrisk@btinternet.com