Sleepout by Hawick youth rugby players raises £1,400-plus for food-bank

A sponsored sleepout by youth rugby players in Hawick has raised almost three times its original £500 target and counting for a food-bank project.
David Oliver, one of the event's organisers, taking part in the sponsored sleepoutDavid Oliver, one of the event's organisers, taking part in the sponsored sleepout
David Oliver, one of the event's organisers, taking part in the sponsored sleepout

More than 50 fundraisers, mostly youngsters but some adults too, took part on Friday night, and the money they raised is now being totted up ready to be handed over to their home-town’s Salvation Army team to help fund its food-bank initiative to help needy folk facing even greater hardship than usual because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

That total was up to more than £1,430 today but might well rise still further once all donations are counted.

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Due to Scottish Government restrictions on movement and mingling to curb the spread of Covid-19, the sleepout, organised by the Scottish Government-funded school of rugby based at Hawick High and the town’s rugby club, didn’t involve any actual sleeping out and settled instead for participants slumbering somewhere other than their usual beds.

One of the youngsters taking part in the sleepout in aid of the Salvation Army in HawickOne of the youngsters taking part in the sleepout in aid of the Salvation Army in Hawick
One of the youngsters taking part in the sleepout in aid of the Salvation Army in Hawick

Community rugby development officer David Oliver said: “The Salvation Army in Hawick has been running a food-bank for years in Hawick and, in recent times, it has been vital in supporting the local community as the full effects of the pandemic were unfolding and more and more people were needing support.

“The sleepout was really good. It was really heartwarming to see so many folk getting involved in donating and supporting this very worthy cause.

“It was amazing to see how much the Hawick rugby community pulled together to do something amazing for the Salvation Army in the town.”

Donations can still be made at gf.me/u/zibrpf