Inspirational 4,000km charity relay kicks off again in Exeter
Exeter today played host to the Sky Bet EFL Every Minute Matters Relay as fans of Exeter undertake a 136km cycle to inspire supporters to learn lifesaving CPR.
The Sky Bet EFL Every Minute Matters Relay, which kicked off today, is a gruelling 4,000-kilometer 28-day journey that will feature an incredible 72 legs stopping off at each and every EFL club before culminating at Wembley on 21st April.
The truly unique charity event will see supporters of each EFL club team up with former football stars and celebrity fans to either run, walk or cycle each leg. Today, passionate Plymouth fans including lifelong Plymouth fan David Isaacs are joined by Plymouth manager Miron Muslic to launch this epic relay.
Big name footie icons and celebrities involved in the nationwide relay include: ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce, Jack Wilshere, Graeme Souness, Tom Lockyer, Glenn Hoddle, Dion Dublin, Troy Deeney, Elis James, Robert Lindsey and Sir Tony Robinson.*
The Relay will weave its way across Devon starting at Plymouth Argyle's ground with a 93KM cycle to Exter City's stadium. Before Exeter fans pick up the baton and undertake a 145KM cycle ride to Bristol City.
Exeter City’s Sustainability Officer, Travis Bramley, who will be undertaking this leg of the relay said: “CPR is a skill for life. You never know who could be affected by cardiac arrest or crucially, when. For example, some of the fittest people I know of through cycling and triathlon have been affected by serious heart conditions.
So, it’s fantastic to see Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation come together for this relay and raise awareness of something that could affect any of us yet is an incredibly easy skill to learn. I’d strongly urge fellow Grecians to take 15 minutes to learn these lifesaving CPR skills through the BHF’s online RevivR tool.”
Race to 270,000
The Sky Bet EFL relay comes almost a year after Sky Bet teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to launch Every Minute Matters with the goal of encouraging an incredible 270,000 to learn CPR by the end of the 2024-2025 football season – equivalent to three Wembley Stadiums.
With two months to go, the campaign has so far encouraged 235,000 people to start learning CPR – meaning the final target is within reach.
Sky Bet separately pledged £3 million to the British Heart Foundation – based on the goals scored by EFL players up and down the country. In February alone, Sky Bet donated £550,000 based on the 445 goals scored during the month – and 11 winning goals in extra time.
Together we can make a real difference
Fans can show their support by learning CPR in just 15 minutes with the help of the BHFs free, simple and easy to use online tool, RevivR.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “The Every Minute Matters campaign is truly lifesaving. Hundreds of thousands of people have already been encouraged to learn CPR, and through the efforts of participants and talent taking part in Sky Bet’s EFL Relay, we know many more will be inspired to learn this vital skill.
“We will be cheering fans on and want to thank them in joining the BHF’s mission to ensure more lives are saved from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.”
To learn CPR in just 15 minutes, visit https://revivr.bhf.org.uk/efl
