KIND players and officials at Greenock Wanderers are shaping up for the new season by running and raising money for local charities.

Coaches have set a challenge to run 1873 kilometres, in reference to the year the club was founded, with the sponsorship money raising funds for Children in Poverty Inverclyde and the Make a Wish Foundation.

Director of rugby John Dyer says it will be a good way for the different age groups and sections of the club to join forces for a good cause.

He told the Tele: “We just want to be connected a bit more as a club between our age groups and have a bit more integration where they all turn up at each other’s sessions and get together again.

“We want to make the club more of a family and we are doing this as a joint effort.

"They’re vying against each other and there’s a prize for whoever covers the furthest distance.

“It was partly the idea of our head coach, Grant Sweeney.

"His ethos is developing a family group and atmosphere.

“There’s so many skills that each group have got that can be utilised by the club in so many ways and it’s about bringing that together.”

Players can either walk, run or cycle to complete their target, with the different sections of the club competing to cover the most distance, which John hopes will can motivate the youngsters.

He said: “We haven’t done anything like this as a combined club and they’re all keen to be involved and raise money for these two charities.

“There is that competition between the various sections and they’ll be fired up by their respective captains and coaches to succeed.”

John says it is important to support local charities in order to help as many people as possible, especially at this difficult time.

He said: “Both charities are ideally suited to get to the heart of the people who are really struggling.

“One of our coaches in the minis, their child sadly lost their fight with illness and a lot of money was raised by the club for that youngster and for Make a Wish.

“We did a 24-hour walk round the perimeter of Fort Matilda, so we wanted to keep that going just now.

“The ladies’ side have also raised money for Children in Poverty Inverclyde before, so this is a continuation of that.”

John says the club has much to look forward to when the sport resumes after its shutdown.

He said: “The ladies have really come through well in the last season and they’re looking forward to having another one.

“The men's first 15 have a challenge ahead of them in the league they are in, they’ve got to finish no lower than sixth otherwise they will lose their spot and go down.

“They’ve all got lots to play for, as well as the youth.

"It's just wonderful to be involved with them and their enthusiasm is really infectious.

“Some of the age groups are very strong, others are coming on and it’s a delight to see them in the colours and representing the club.”

Donations to the club’s challenge can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/greenock-wanderers