Non-League club hope to lead battle against obesity
The Pitching In Isthmian League North Division outfit are based in Thurrock, recently named the obesity capital of England, and are determined to do whatever it takes to help shed the unwanted reputation.
The club is running a 12-week weight loss and fitness programme providing free weekly football sessions for adults of all ages and abilities, funded by league sponsor Pitching In's Trident Community Foundation.
The ground-breaking TCF initiative sees Step 3 and 4 clubs receive grants of up to £5,000 to launch new or expand existing community-based projects, and has awarded more than £500,000 to clubs since its launch in 2020.
'We're trying to look after people and get them active," said Grays Athletic chairman Lee Vehit.
'If you look at Thurrock as an area, it's not great in terms of health statistics. 76% of adults in Thurrock are clinically obese and I'm one of those as well, so it resonates with me and I understand the significance of it.
'We've got 41% of adults in Thurrock who don't meet physical fitness requirements set by NHS. That shows that there's a lot of work to be done in the community and this initiative is a positive way to do that.
'We're a community focused football club and lots of the work we do in the community is off our own back so it's a struggle, logistically and financially to do anything so any help we get is a huge bonus.
'We saw the benefits of the fund and we felt it was in the best interests to apply and thankfully, we were successful.'
On the field, Grays finished ninth last season and are looking forward to the new campaign.
Vehit is one of countless volunteers who play integral roles at non-league clubs across the country, with opportunities to get involved now available through the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.
Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available.
He added: 'Volunteers are essential. We couldn't run the football club without them. They're the lifeblood of the football club and we rely on multiple volunteers to give us their time and expertise and to try and keep our football club going.
'We genuinely wouldn't be able to run our football club without them.'
Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting https://pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk/
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