Game on as IGS cricketers prepare for South Africa trip (From Ilkley Gazette)

Game on as IGS cricketers prepare for South Africa trip

10:50am Friday 20th January 2012 in Features

A group of talented young cricketers have launched a fundraising project to help them pay for the trip of a lifetime.

Youngsters from Ilkley Grammar School will head to South Africa in October for a cricketing tour and some work for the Goedgedacht Trust, which helps farm workers and their families out of poverty.

The cricketers are mainly from Year 10 at the school and most have played representative cricket either for the Airedale and Wharfedale Lord’s Taverner’s sides or for Bradford Schools.

The squad will be supplemented by five Year 8 boys and the 10-day trip will give the players the opportunity to test their skills against tough opposition from the Cape Province.

The trust runs a rural development centre more than 50 miles north of Cape Town and its flagship programme is the Pathway Out of Poverty’ (POP) scheme for farm workers and their children. The boys will be worked hard at the trust and gain valuable experience helping children less fortunate than themselves. They will learn first-hand how organisations like Goedgedacht can make a positive difference to the lives of some of the poorest people in South Africa.

But the cricketers have to raise money to pay for the trip and have already set up a programme of events, including bag-packing at Asda in Otley, on Saturday, January 28, a quiz and curry night at Ben Rhydding Cricket Club, at 8pm on Saturday, February 25, and three fundraising raffles at the King’s Hall, in Ilkley, on Wednesday, February 29, and Thursday, March 1. The youngsters are also looking for sponsorship for their trip.

Anyone who can help, or anyone who would like more information, can call Anne D’Arcy on 01943 839024, or Jackie Day on 01943 864873.