Icy challenge sweeping across the Ryman!

Fans, players and officials of all ages are undertaking the Ice Bucket Challenge in droves to uphold the Ryman League’s reputation for never holding back when it comes to charity fundraising!

The internet phenomenon has seen world leaders, sports, music and film stars leading the way with the Motor Neurone Disease Association revealing on Friday that more than £6m has been raised in the last month alone, the fundraising equivalent of around 25 years of London Marathon sponsorship.

In fact, the MND Association and Macmillan Cancer UK say that between them they are more than £10 million better off thanks to craze that started out in New Zealand this summer and has been sweeping the world ever since. Internationally, tens of millions of pounds has been raised for numerous charities and awareness of motor neurone disease across the globe has soared.

There’s no doubt that the Ryman League is playing its part across all three divisions and at the highest level too with the Isthmian League’s vice-chairman and company secretary Nick Robinson even joining in the 'fun' and taking the plunge for charity. Along with many others, his video record is now online under the ‘videos & photo’ tab on the home page.

As you’d expect with their reputation for sportsmanship and fair play, Corinthinan-Casuals were one of the first clubs to take the challenge en masse after their reserve team manager nominated just about everybody at the Ryman South outfit, including their 120,000 plus fans on Facebook and 8,000 followers on Twitter!

Manager Matt Howard, never been known to duck a challenge and fresh from his side’s Bank Holiday win over Walton Casuals, he duly took a dousing for charity, pictured, along with players Danny Dudley, Joe Hicks, Danny Bracken and Jamie Byatt.

A supporter led the way at another Ryman South club, Folkestone Invicta. Avid fan Peter Candy underwent a soaking at half-time during the club's home game with Sittingbourne, raising £120 for Macmillan Nurses in the process. After being nominated, Invicta’s manager Neil Cugley and former secretary Neil Pilcher underwent their ceremonial soaking in memory of a popular local player and friend, Mark Stanton, who passed away last year after several years bravely living with MND.

Players, fans and staff at Ryman South newboys South Park won’t find it easy to duck the challenge after the club’s 73-year-old chairman Colin Puplett, his 70-year-old brother Harry and secretary Nick Thatcher entered into the spirit of things after their FA Cup victory over Thamesmead Town.

In Ryman North, the challenge's highlights include the father of striker Alex Read who got the ball rolling at Harlow Town while Waltham Abbey chairman John Martin and secretary Simon Casey took the challenge before kicking off against Cockfosters in the FA Cup. They were raising funds for Abotts player Ben Bradbury who suffered a horrific double leg break during their home match against Burnham last month.

Brightlingsea Regent, another new club, did their bit with half the team taking an early cold shower last week, as did the brave U21 players at Heybridge Swifts.

One in six Britons are now estimated to have taken the challenge or sponsored others and members of the Ryman League’s top flight are definitely among them. At Champion Hill a record Non-League Day 2014 crowd of nearly 3,000 fans saw Dulwich Hamlet’s stars and management all undergo the water torture for good causes before last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Hampton & Richmond.

Elsewhere, Canvey Island midfielder Mike Jones took the plunge for the Gulls while Gray Athletic’s club captain and fans favourite Kenny Beaney underwent a soaking after being nominated by Blues supporters Lee Hassan, James Chisnell and Liam Quilter who did the challenge on Bank holiday Monday in front of the big crowd attending their match with AFC Hornchurch.

Ryman Premier newboys Witham Town didn’t hold back on Bank Holiday Monday either. After the final whistle in their clash against Leiston, manager Garry Kimble, his entire coaching staff and even the club’s newly appointed chaplain were soaked for charity in front of delighted supporters!

Unsurprisingly, when Billericay Town took the challenge they were led by manager and former boxer Craig Edwards. He must have taken a few cold showers in his time and along with chairman Steve Kent, Edwards and a number of players including Ryan Scott, all took part before the Blues’ 2-0 Bank Holiday Monday win over Thurrock.

For more information on taking the challenge and making a donation visit: www.mndassociation.org.

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