The street child cricket world cup

Fitness First is proud to support The Hope Foundation and Team India North as part of the Street Child Cricket World Cup.

WHAT IS THE STREET CHILD CRICKET WORLD CUP?

The first event of its kind, this fantastic cause is bringing together cricket teams from Bangladesh, India North, India South, Mauritius, Tanzania, Nepal, West Indies, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and England. Each team is represented by organisations that provide frontline support for street-connected young people in each country.

This amazing opportunity comes from the charity Street Child United, which, like the Hope Foundation, fights to protect street-connected children. However, this isn’t the first time Street Child United has brought young people of the world together through sport.  

Previously, the organisation created the Street Child Football World cups in Durban, Rio de Janeiro and Moscow before the South African, Brazilian and Russian FIFA World Cups respectively. Similarly, they also brought children in need together from across the globe, thanks to the Street Child Games before the Rio Olympics in 2016.

 

WHEN IS THE STREET CHILD CRICKET WORLD CUP?

The Street Child Cricket World Cup is taking place in early May, preceding the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. The purpose of the event is to put street-connected children at the centre stage of the cricketing world, giving them a voice, and helping to raise awareness to tackle the widespread stigma and negative treatment they face.  

The young cricketers involved will be welcomed at a reception in Westminster and will be guests of The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH, former Prime Minister and Street Child Cricket World Cup Patron, at the Kia Oval to watch Surrey vs Kent on 2nd May.

Qualifying matches will commence from the 1st of May in Cambridge and London, with the finals taking place on the 7th May at Lord’s. Fitness First is always looking for new and inspiring ways to help promote fitness, so how could we resist getting involved in such a great cause?

Scott Best, Managing Director of Fitness First said: “We’re delighted to be able to support Team India North and The Hope Foundation, having been inspired by the stories of these street-connected young cricketers and their preparation for this amazing journey. This is such a fantastic cause and a great start to a World Cup Summer. We look forward to following their progress once the competition starts and I hope to be seeing them at Lord’s on May 7th.”

Sue Perkins, ambassador for Team India North has seen first hand how sponsoring a child through the Hope foundation can change lives. She said: "I have witnessed first-hand the extraordinary potential of the children living on the streets and in the slums of Kolkata, through Hope's work. I am delighted to be an ambassador for Team India North. The Street Child Cricket World Cup is an opportunity for children all over the world to travel to London, play cricket, showcase their potential and raise their voices for the voiceless. Everyone deserves a chance to be somebody. Child Sponsorship gives children in Kolkata this chance. I would love if people would consider sponsoring a child through Hope, as I have done, and see for yourself how lives and generations can be changed forever".

Go to The Hope Foundation website for more information about the young cricketers from Kolkata (aged between 12 and 16) who will be representing Team India North

Click here if you’re interested in registering for a ticket, or for more information about this brilliant event and the amazing charities behind them, visit the websites for The Hope Foundation and Street Child United.