Charlton Athletic raise funds for local Upbeats team
Wednesday 12 April 2017 15:16, UK
Charlton Athletic and their supporters have raised over £20,000 for a local Down's Syndrome football team.
More than 200 people, including former players, took part in the nine-mile charity walk from the training ground to the Valley, before Saturday's 2-1 win against Southend.
In addition, current players Declan Rudd, Chris Solly, Ricky Holmes, Nathan Byrne and Jay Dasilva gave their match-shirts to the Upbeats, a team run by the Charlton Athletic Community Trust.
First team manager Karl Robinson said: "This is what I mean about a unified club. When we all unite together we're a special place.
"Every person that wears our shirt, whether it be the Upbeats, the ladies team, the Under-6 team through to the first team, we want everyone to feel a part of one family. That's the way I want to build the football club."
Over 170 people with Down's Syndrome from across south east London and Kent are registered with the Upbeats, with 40 regular attendees every week.
