Charity Work – Jack Garrett (BF 03)helps raise nearly £150,000 for NHS charities

First published 7th May 2020

Jack Garrett (BF 03) and a group of rugby fanatics (including Barnes Rugby Football Club), famous players and friends around the world took part in a charity Big Lift: the aim, to raise £10,000 in support of the NHS. Amazingly, the target was not only reached but categorically shattered thanks to the efforts of all involved.

in 2020, Jack suffered the unimaginable tragedy which has affected so many families world wide when he lost his father Garry to Coronavirus. Garry was a major figure in the rugby family of Barnes RFC and so Jack and members of the club organised a sponsored Big Lift to raise funds for front line services and vulnerable people suffering in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The aim…

The aim: to lift over a million kilos worldwide in one day (2nd May 2020) and raise £10,000 in the process. The weights used could be anything from bags of sugar to professional weights, the only rule being that the weights must be safely lifted from ground to overhead, each time. 

The people…

An amazing group of people came together in this wonderful event – done of course from everybody’s own home and shared on social media – and (thanks in particular to the efforts of Jamie George (BF 04) working with the wider rugby community) included the likes of:  Sean Fitzpatrick; Ben Tameifuna; Jonny Wilkinson; Billy Vunipola; Ellis Genge; Jason Leonard;  Danny Care;  Mike Tindall; Will Carling and Topsy Ojo.

The astonishing result…

Cometh the day, cometh the fundraisers! Not only was the £10,000 target reached by those taking part but completely smashed!

” I’m totally speechless. An incredible day that my family will truly never forget. Thank you to everyone that donated, lifted, Tweeted, Facebooked, LinkedIn’d and spread it to the point where people across the country/world took part. You all absolutely smashed it out the park. An unbelievable send off to a man that simply wanted to talk about scrums and the dark arts of the front row. Thank you, so so much.”

Jack Garrett (BF 03)

By time of going to press over 7 million kilos were lifted and the sum raised stood at an astonishing £149,000 (inclusive of gift aid). As Jack said on his Linkedin page, 

What an amazing result for Jack and all those taking part – and a stunning way of celebrating a shared love for his father among the rugby community.

See what other OHs are doing to support charities worldwide

Haileybury instils in all its pupils and alumni the notion of Spirit of Service. Many OHs support charities and charitable initiatives throughout their lives and encourage others to do so too. To find out more, click the button below.

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