A MEMBER of Middleton-in-Teesdale CC has become a poster star as part of a national campaign to highlight the efforts of key workers from the cricket world who are supporting their community during the Covid-19 emergency.
A poster featuring Sue Bainbridge features on billboards across England and Wales as part of an ECB campaign called #raisethebat which also features England stars includ-ing World Cup winners Moeen Ali and Heather Knight.
Ms Bainbridge plays for Middleton CC’s ladies team as well as coaching the upper dale’s youngsters as part of the All Stars programme. She is also well known for organis-ing online zumba classes via the Zoom app.
Ms Bainbridge also volunteers with the North East Ambulance car service, is a community first responder and during the coronavirus crisis has signed up to as a volunteer patient transport driver. She was nominated for #raisethebat by Middleton CC’s Dave Garth and said she was quite surprised to have been chosen.
“The ECB got in touch and asked if I would be part of it and someone saw my name of a poster in Leeds at a bus stop. It seemed quite a strange thing to be on a bus stop in Leeds. I hadn’t seen it before,” she said.Ms Bainbridge is one of two nominees from Durham to be chosen for the campaign. The other, Mark Eland, is an umpire with the North York-shire and South Durham Premier League. He was nominated for his work as an NHS driver.
With no cricket being played Mr Eland agreed to do more hours assisting doctors on their shifts in the Whitby area. Originally contracted for 12 hours per week he has stepped up during the pandemic and is now supporting the NHS with about 100 hours per month.
The #raisethebat campaign is part of the cricket-wide Together Through This Test initiative which was launched to support and celebrate the cricket world 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 in the cricket world who deserve recognition. The #raisethebat campaign will run until July 8. Visit ecb.co.uk/covid-19 to find out more about how to get involved in cricket-led community initiatives.
