In an effort to raise funds for health workers, hospitals and charity foundations leading the battle against COVID-19 pandemic from the front, England cricketer Ben Stokes will be running his maiden half marathon this Tuesday (May 5).
Stokes, in a video message posted on Instagram, said he felt inspired by three men calling themselves the 'Cricket Garden Marathon Team', as they ran full marathons in their own backyards to raise funds for Britain's National Health Services (NHS) and the Chance to Shine foundation.
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"(A half marathon) is always been something that I've thought about doing a but never really got around to ever doing it," Stokes was heard saying in the video.
"Obviously we've been in lockdown so I thought what a great opportunity to go out and if I'm going to do it I might as well try and raise some funds," he added.
The 28-year-old hopes that his effort will encourage people to donate to the page set up by the Cricket Garden Marathon team.
"I will be hopefully inspiring people to make some donations towards the Cricket Garden Marathon, I'm just trying to add some more funds to what they've managed to do," he said.
The Chance to Shine foundation is also very close to Stokes' heart, working to provide all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket.
"They are supporting NHS and are also supporting Chance to Shine which is obviously got a very close attachment to cricket, which is what I am," he said.
Earlier, Stokes, like all his English teammates, volunteered for 20 per cent pay cut till the end of June, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) foreseeing heavy losses because of the game's indefinite suspension.
(Inputs from PTI)
