Sunday league football team raises £1,200 for a Sunderland care home with a 32 mile charity bike ride

Players from AFC Downhill took part in a bike ride from Roker seafront to Beamish and back again to raise money for Blossom Hill care home in Redhouse.
By Ryan Smith
Published 17th Aug 2020, 17:43 BST
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The squad took part in the bike ride on Sunday, August 2 which saw them ride for around 32 miles in an effort to raise £1,200 for the care home.

The team also bought £50 worth of cupcakes and paid for singer to entertain the staff and residents.

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It was organised by 24-year-old Leon Hope who also runs AFC Downhill and he has explained why they wanted to do it.

AFC Downhill players rode from Roker to Beamish and back again to raise money for Blossom Hill care home.AFC Downhill players rode from Roker to Beamish and back again to raise money for Blossom Hill care home.
AFC Downhill players rode from Roker to Beamish and back again to raise money for Blossom Hill care home.
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He said: “When I took over the team last year, it wasn’t really a team and for a while I’ve been trying to get the local community involved in it.

"As they have helped us out, we wanted to do something to give back and a couple of the lads have a close connection to the care home so that’s why we chose it.

"Everyone had a target to raise £60 and they all absolutely smashed it.”

The team also bought cupcakes and paid for a singer for the residents and staff.The team also bought cupcakes and paid for a singer for the residents and staff.
The team also bought cupcakes and paid for a singer for the residents and staff.
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Leon explained to the Echo how proud he was of the squad and vowed that it wouldn’t be the last time the team helps the community.

He added: “It was good to give back to the community and I’m really proud of them coming together.

"There is massive buzz about Downhill pond at the moment as there are swans nesting there and you can guarantee that we’ll be down there helping out with whatever needs doing.

"We will be more than happy to help out the local community.”

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