EVERY MILE MATTERS: RUNNING FOR EALING TRAILFINDERS FOUNDATION

When Ealing Trailfinders club staff and trustees take on the Ealing Half Marathon later this month, they will be running for people whose stories bring the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation’s work into the spotlight.

Among them is Peter, who is undergoing cancer treatment and attends Ealing Trailfinders’ Walking Rugby sessions each week. Speaking to us after a session, he told the team that, at the moment, the Club and those weekly sessions are the only thing keeping him going.

‘What can I say about walking rugby? Get involved! Get involved in sport! Get yourself down! I won’t tell you my age, but if I can do it, then other people can do it. Especially walking rugby! I’m worn out now, but it was a good session today!’

After a piece on the club’s website piqued his interest, and prompted a first try, Peter’s diagnosis provided a sudden halt to what had become his weekly ritual. However, as soon as he was able, he then returned to his teammates at Trailfinders Sports Club.

‘I was looking at the website. Looking at the usual things – player profiles, etc, and then I saw it – walking rugby. I thought it looked interesting, so I came down on a Tuesday night, and just really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with cancer, so I had to leave it for 9 months. I had a PICC in my arm, but once that was gone, I was right back into it. It’s really helped me a lot.’

Across Ealing, the Community & Foundation team help children discover sport, support people with disabilities to become more active, bring older residents together to combat isolation, and much more. Within that work are individual relationships with a level of importance that can be difficult to truly understand until somebody shares what they mean to them.

Ian Isham, Head of Community at Ealing Trailfinders, said, ‘When someone tells you how much being a part of something we may otherwise take for granted means to them, it stays with you long after the session finishes. You realise that something which can seem quite ordinary on a rota can be thing that somebody builds their week around.

‘Having people to talk to, being welcomed and knowing someone is pleased to see you – those things matter enormously. That is what we want people to find through the work we deliver.’

Later this month, on the weekend we host our first home fixture of the season against Richmond, the club extends its support across Ealing Half Marathon weekend. As headline sponsors of the Trailfinders Ealing Mini Mile, it will help hundreds of children enjoy being active together. Staff and trustees, including Ian, will also take on the half marathon to raise money for the Foundation’s community projects.

For Peter, that support already means more than many of us could imagine.

‘It’s the friendship. Regardless of if you come down on a matchday, or any other day, the club is just so friendly. You meet and chat with the players and they’re just so supportive. I don’t boast or talk much about my problem, but they’re always there for you. I don’t mean to be dropping names, but Jordy Reid, I saw him a couple of months ago, and he asked, “How’re you keeping?”, “How is the cancer going?”, “I haven’t seen you in God knows how long”. But that’s what it’s like. It’s brilliant.’

Donations to the Foundation help support local projects that make experiences like Peter’s possible. By backing our runners, you can help give more people a place to feel welcome, people to turn to, and something to look forward to.

Support the team by visiting the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation JustGiving page here.