Durham Cricket has joined the #raisethebat campaign, which highlights key workers from the world of cricket who have helped to support their local community during COVID-19.
Key workers who have been nominated by their cricket clubs will be featured on over 300 billboards across England and Wales. Meanwhile the whole cricket family has been asked to shine a light on the many more key workers who deserve recognition by using #raisethebat on social media.
The campaign features billboards with England cricketers, including World Cup winners Heather Knight and Moeen Ali, raising their bat in recognition of these amazing people. The players have also paid tribute with personalised video messages to nominated key workers who are local to them.
Susan Bainbridge who is a volunteer for the North East Ambulance Service from Middleton in Teesdale Cricket Club features alongside other unsung heroes including Holly Buxton, Club Secretary at Calder Grove Cricket Club in Yorkshire, who has formed a COVID-19 Workforce to support the vulnerable in her community and Dr Nasir Ali, who is an Emergency Medicine Consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Event Doctor at Edgbaston Stadium.
Susan Bainbridge is one of two nominees from Durham and is being recognised for her exceptional efforts during the pandemic as an ambulance volunteer, who has also been running Zumba classes for seniors via Zoom. In normal circumstances, Susan also volunteers in her local community gym which specialises in helping people start a fitness regime, after recovering from a long illness.
Mark Eland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League Umpire, has also been nominated for his work as an NHS driver. With no cricket being played Mark has agreed to do more hours assisting Doctors on their shifts within the Whitby area.
Mark is originally contracted to 12 hours per week but has stepped up during the pandemic and is now supporting the NHS with around 100 hours per month.
#raisethebat is part of the game-wide Together Through This Test initiative which was launched to support and celebrate the cricket family during Covid-19.
Clare Connor, ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, who is leading the campaign said: “It has truly been humbling to read the nominations which have shone a light on the tireless work of nurses, teachers, care workers and supermarket staff who have responded to this crisis without hesitation.
“We know there are many more unsung heroes out there so we’re encouraging people to highlight the contribution of anyone from their cricket club or community who they feel deserves recognition.”
Durham Cricket and the ECB are asking people to use social media, and the hashtag #raisethebat, to share stories of other key workers within the cricket family who deserve recognition.
The #raisethebat campaign is set to run until July 8.
Visit ecb.co.uk/covid-19 to find out more about resources available to you and how you can get involved in cricket-led community initiatives in your region.