This is the place for all the latest news and updates
regarding our #OpStretcher challange.
22nd May - What's Our Why
We're under no illusion, everyone who embarks on #OpStretcher will go through highs and lows at some point. There will be times when we are tired, hurting, hungry and emotional but as a squad we look after each other and we will triumph. We're all on the same path, the same mission and the same objective, together. This is what makes what we do so special, we experience it all as a unit and get through it tighter and more determined than ever before.
There will be times we need to grit our teeth, lift our heads, fight through and come out with a smile. This is going to be a massive test, a bit like life it doesn't come with a safety catch. We've just got to battle through and always remember why we are pushing ourselves to our limits.
Here's our why...
21st May - Where and When
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the clubs that are hosting us throughout #OpStretcher. Without your kindness this challenge wouldn't be possible, so a BIG thank from us to all the clubs.
Below is a list of the clubs that will be hosting us:
26th May – Sofia Gardens and Gwent HC
11.00 Welsh Select
19.00 Welsh Masters
20.30 Gwent HC
27th May – Gloucester City HC, Plock Court pitch
14.30 Lansdown
16.00 Cheltenham
17.30 Gloucester
28th May – Chippenham HC
14.30 Stroud
16.00 Wotton-under-edge
17.30 Chippenham
29th May – Royal Wootton Bassett HC, RWB Academy
13.30 Military Team
15.00 Wallingford
16.30 Royal Wootton Bassett
30th May – Newbury HC
16.00 Military Team
18.00 Newbury
19.30 Newbury
31st May - Sonning HC
16.00 Military Team
18.00 Sonning
19.30 Bicester
1st June - Amersham and Chalfont, Amersham and Wycombe College
16.00 Military Team
18.00 High Wycombe
19.30 Amersham and Chalfont
2nd June – St Albans HC, Oaklands College
16.00 Military Team
18.00 Hertford
19.30 St Albans
3rd June – Old Loughtonians HC
12.30 East London
14.00 Leeds Beckett
15.30 Old Loughtonians
4th June – Marlow HC Family Fun Day
10.00 H4H Ladies Vs Sonning HC Ladies
11.30 H4H Ladies Vs Marlow HC Ladies
13.30 H4H Men Vs Marlow Men
15.30 H4H Men Vs Danny Kerry (Ladies GB Coach) Invitational XI
17.30 H4H Men Vs England Barbarians
20th May - Support Keeps Coming
As the start date of #OpStretcher nears we've been overwhelmed with the messages of support for the tour and have to-date now raised over £22,000 for Help for Heroes. It's safe to say that we are well on our way to hitting our £30,000 target!
Thank you to everyone for their kind messages of support, please do keep them coming as they mean so much to the team.
Send us your pictures or videos of support and you could be featured in a future blog post :-)
In the meantime, here's just a few of the messages we've received in the last few days...
19th May - One Week To Go
With just one week to go until the start of #OpStretcher our squad have been training hard and fundraising even harder.
We have smashed through our original £20k target so have increased our target to a MASSIVE £30k. Thank you so much for all your support and kind donations, but please keep them coming...
The clubs that are hosting our games have been promoting their events within their clubs, on social media and with the local press so please get along to your closest club and show your support.
Our final day details have been confirmed as a family fun day event at Marlow Hockey Club on the 4th June. The day will feature lots of fun activities including bouncy castles, face painting, pitch roller race and so much more.
#OpStretcher Tweets
#OpStretcher Instagrams
About #OpStretcher
On the 26th May 2017, Hockey for Heroes will march from Sophia Gardens in Cardiff to Marlow Hockey Club in Buckinghamshire as part of Operation Stretcher in aid of Help for Heroes. Along the way the squad will visit various clubs playing 30 games over hockey over the 10 day period.
Throughout the tour the squad of 44 will take it in turn to carry a stretcher containing former Royal Marine Dominic Robert Lovett who was injured during a military training exercise and is now tetraplegic.
- Duration : 10 Days
- Distance carrying stretcher : 200 miles
- Hockey Games : 30
- Squad Size : 44
Great Britain Men’s Team Manager, Andy Halliday will be supporting #OpStretcher, dribbling a hockey ball along the entire route behind the stretcher.
