Milestone: Pickering & Butters team up with Milford Hall Cricket Club

Milford Hall Cricket Club, who Pickering & Butters are longstanding sponsors of, have recently pledged to support a charity, Milestone, set up by former club player, Chris Paget.

Chris went on to play cricket professionally for Derbyshire County Cricket Club, at the time becoming their youngest ever player to play in the County Championship.  Chris later went on to experience neurological symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Following struggles with his mental health and depression, Chris, now a specialist sports lawyer in London, set up the charity, Milestone, which seeks to raise awareness of mental health and its interplay with the chronic disease, MS.  The charity raises funds for CALM, The MS Trust and The Professional Cricketer’s Association, whilst bringing people together to inspire others to communicate their feelings and emotions.

To support the former player’s charity, current Milford members, along with former players and members, have set a challenge of covering 1200 miles in the month of June, this being the return distance to travel to all South Staffs County League clubs .  The members and former players are clubbing together and logging their miles through either walking, running or cycling.

Pickering & Butters Partner, James Wallbank, who is also a former player at the Club, is getting involved by adding to the mileage total through cycling. 

James, pictured below with First XI captain, Stu Phasey, said “I came through the age groups at Milford with Chris, and it is fantastic that the club are supporting him with his charitable work.  Mental health is a subject that, at long last, is getting the recognition that it deserves, and having also seen a family member suffer with MS, this is a cause which is very close to me and very worthy of being involved with.”

The club have set a goal of raising £500 during the course of their challenge, and have set up their own JustGiving page where you can click to donate here.

For further information on Milestone and the work that the charity is undertaking, you can visit their website here.