Football fanatics and players from Duckyls Farm met fundraiser Steve Atkins during his 100 mile challenge to raise £12,000 for the Sussex Disability Football League.
Residents from Duckyls Farm, who play in the Sussex Disability Football League were delighted to meet the organisation’s chair Steve Atkins and share motivational messages during his 100 mile walk to raise awareness and vital funds to safeguard the league’s future.
Steve Atkins swapped his football boots for walking boots in a unique challenge to walk 100 miles in three days and visit six of the clubs that play in the Sussex Disability Football league. The football fanatical Duckyls Farm residents who play for Wasps, were thrilled to be able to cheer him on when he stopped off at East Grinstead Town FC ground during his challenge.
Steve successfully walked over 100 miles in just three days taking in the home grounds of several Sussex football clubs on his route. As well as highlighting the League’s pan disability message of inclusion and equality he also hoped to raise £12,000, the cost of delivering the Sussex Disability Football League’s fixtures each season.
Karen Tolton, Manager Duckyls Farm said, “Steve hoped that his challenge would highlight the league’s pan disability message of inclusion and equality whilst raising much needed funds and everyone at Ducklys Farm was cheering him on. Some of our residents play for Wasps in the Sussex Disability Football League and they were really happy to be able to meet Steve at the East Grinstead ground during his challenge. Ducklys Farm supports residents while encouraging them to be as independent as possible and activities like playing football is something our residents really look forward to. It’s an amazing achievement to complete a 100 mile walk in just three days and we truly hope Steve succeeds in raising the £12,000 needed for a season’s fixture costs.”
Some of the residents from Duckyls Farm, the Diagrama run home for adults with learning disabilities in west Sussex, play for the Wasps Disability Team, which is based in East Grinstead. They train at Jubilee Centre (East Grinstead) every Wednesday afternoon and have matches in Lancing approximately every 6 weeks. They were delighted to meet Steve at the East Grinstead Football Ground during his fundraising challenge.
To find out more about the Sussex Disability Football League visit www.sussexdisabilityfootball.org.uk and to find out more about learning disability support at the Diagrama run Duckyls Farm visit www.diagramafoundation.org.uk/duckyls-farm
About the Sussex Disability Football League
The aim of the Sussex Disability Football League is to promote disability football throughout Sussex and provide competition for people of all abilities.
www.sussexdisabilityfootball.org.uk
About Duckyls Farm
Duckyls Farm a care home for eight residents with learning disabilities in West Sussex, joined the Diagrama Foundation care provider in February 2023.
Residents at Duckyls Farm benefit from the former farmhouse’s idyllic location. It is on the outskirts of the village of West Hoathly and sits in extensive grounds with masses of space for outdoor pursuits. Diagrama’s highly trained and professional on-site team are always on hand to support residents while encouraging them to be as independent as possible via a wide-ranging programme of trips and activities.
www.diagramafoundation.org.uk/duckyls-farm
About Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama Foundation is a Kent based charity that supports vulnerable children, young people, and adults to live their best life.
Diagrama has a Supported Living Service across Bromley, three homes for adults with learning disabilities in Orpington, an eight-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities in West Sussex a fifty-bed care home for the elderly with nursing and dementia needs in Essex, and a fostering and adoption service in the southeast.
- The Supported Living Service, cares for 35 adults with learning disabilities, in nine homes across Bromley helping them to develop skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others.
- At Cabrini House in Orpington the charity promotes the development of core skills for 23 adults with learning disabilities so that they can lead independent lives integrated within their community.
- Duckyls Farm in West Sussex, a care home for eight residents with learning disabilities, joined the charity care provider in February 2023.
- The team at their nursing and dementia care home, Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, support vulnerable residents to live life to the full.
- Diagrama’s adoption and fostering service cares for children in South London, Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.
Many vulnerable children and adults don’t get the support they need to develop their true potential, but the Diagrama team know that when someone has time and belief invested in them, they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
