Page 36 - Eclipse - RVC Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2020

12-hours of hockey to raise money for
Mind and the Hockey Club
Shona Farish, Mixed Hockey Captain 19-20
The RVC Hockey Club (RVCHC) has been striving to play more mixed hockey both within
our club and through friendly matches with other universities. This year, through events such as our mixed indoor tournament and our mixed friendly match and social with Guys, Kings and St Thomas’ Hospital Hockey Club (GKT), we have bonded greatly within the club, gained friendships with GKT members and hope to continue
to build connections with other universities through the wonderful game that is hockey.
This year, one of the RVCHC highlights was our 12-hour charity match to raise money for the mental health charity Mind and for Hockey Club funds.
On 22 February, with water bottles
full, snacks aplenty and blister plasters primed, we entered the sports hall, equipped for one of the longest and most tiring games of hockey we were (probably) ever going to play. With bibs distributed and teams readied...the one- minute countdown began.
Between 8am and 12pm the hours passed relatively smoothly with well- coordinated subbing to allow for refuelling. 2pm brought the half-way point and fatigue started to set in. Morale and numbers on pitch refused to drop, however, despite the rubbing feet and shin pad burn.
The final two hours were relentless and, with fervent glances at the
clock, our energy crescendoed as we realised our 12 hours were nearly up. 8pm finally arrived and we huddled
in congratulations and euphoria to celebrate what we had achieved.
Everyone who took part in the event that day worked together without prompt
or complaint. United for the same goal, everybody pulled together and used the 12 hours not only to find new physical and mental limits, but also build upon relationships within the club.
Despite it rendering some of us unable to walk normally for a week and making playing our Sunday matches the next day all the more gruelling, we were incredibly proud and happy to have raised over £1,000 for two very worthy causes.
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