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PCA chairman flying the flag for Professional Cricketers’ Trust.
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Worcestershire batsman and PCA chairman Daryl Mitchell is looking forward to taking on the Three Peaks Challenge this October in aid of both the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and Tom Maynard Trust.
Mitchell, 35, was elected chairman of the PCA by his peers in February 2017, following the retirement of previous post-holder Mark Wallace. As part of his role, he is a trustee of the Cricketers’ Trust, meaning he witnesses the inspiring work that the charity does first hand.
The players’ charity supports the lifelong health and wellbeing of PCA members and their immediate families, both during and after their playing careers. You can read inspiring stories of those who have benefitted from the Trust via our website.
The Three Peaks Challenge is set to be the Trust’s biggest physical fundraiser of 2019. Over the course of 11-13 October, some of cricket’s most famous faces will join spectators in summiting Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon to raise valuable funds for the charity.
All money raised will be split evenly between the Cricketers’ Trust and the Tom Maynard Trust. The latter, set up by Glamorgan head coach Matt Maynard in 2012, aims to educate young people about the potential pitfalls of a career in professional sport.
Mitchell recently spoke to the Trust about why he is excited to raise money for both charities during the Three Peaks Challenge.
- Tell us a little bit about the Three Peaks Challenge and why you’re doing it.
- As a professional cricketer, it’s always good to get involved with something like this during the month we have off at the end of the season. Not to mention that it’s also an extremely worthwhile cause – I’m a trustee of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust so it’s a charity that’s very close to my heart. I know Matt Maynard very well having taken part in the Big Bike Ride 3 alongside him so I’m very motivated to raise money for the Tom Maynard Trust as well.
- As chairman of the PCA, how important is it to support the players’ charity through challenges like these?
- One of the roles you take on as chairman is to be a trustee of our charity and, to be honest, it was eye-opening to see some of the names of people who the Trust have helped out. There’s a lot of guys who I’ve played against over the years as well as many who I’ve played with and have fallen on hard times. I see the amazing work the charity does first hand so it’s a huge and very rewarding part of the role of PCA chairman to sit on the board of the Trust and see exactly where the money goes. It really does help some very worthwhile causes out there.
- How much are you looking forward to the challenge itself?
- I’m really looking forward to it. Obviously it will be a tough challenge and I’m certainly not a mountain climber or a walker – I tend to do most of my work on flat cricket grounds. I will be very proud when I’ve completed it and I’m really looking forward to seeing the views from the top. People keep telling me that the weather is going to be vitally important so if we get good weather then it will be a fantastic experience and if we get some inclement weather then it will be a bit more of a challenge. I wasn’t a big cyclist before the Big Bike Ride but the camaraderie of it all got me through. So I’m looking forward to the togetherness of the group and spending three days with some really good people.
- So you’re not a mountain climber. Have you got any training plans lined up to combat that?
- Very naively I’m just planning on winging it a little bit. I have actually bought a pair of boots so at least I’ve got those. I also live right by the Malvern Hills so I’ll try and venture up them a couple of times in the next few weeks and in the lead up to the event.
- Have you got a specific fundraising target in mind?
- Not really. The next thing on my to-do list is to set up a JustGiving page. But I think I’m the only person doing it from Worcestershire so hopefully the county’s members, supporters and my teammates can rally behind me and help me to raise as much money as I possibly can.
- With the timing of the challenge, have you got any end-of-season celebrations planned?
- It’s a busy time with the Worcestershire CCC dinner as well as the 50th NatWest PCA Awards in the lead up to the Three Peaks. It won’t be ideal preparation, but I’m looking forward to celebrating at the end of the season and then focussing on the Three Peaks not long after that!
- Any holidays planned for afterwards or are you just going to put your feet up and relax?
- I’m doing a week in Portugal straight after the PCA summit so I can spend a bit of time with the family during half term. Hopefully that’s when I’ll be able to recover from all the stresses and strains placed on me during the challenge!
Places are still available to take on the Three Peaks Challenge with both charities urging players, sponsors and supporters to sign up.
For more details on the walk click here or email Ali Prosser on alison.prosser@thepca.co.uk.
Follow @ThreePeaks2019 on Twitter for all the latest updates.
