Pete Cleverly, from Essex, played doubles matches non-stop from 09:00 GMT on Friday to 09:00 on Saturday at Frinton-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Club. His 17-month-old son, William, was the driving force behind this challenge.
A Strong Showing in the 24-Hour Match
During the marathon, Pete played 24 doubles matches and won an impressive 19 of them. The event raised over £13,000 for two charities: Steps Charity Worldwide and the neonatal intensive care unit at Colchester Hospital. Both organizations had supported Pete’s son, Billy, when he was born with clubfoot.
What is Clubfoot?
Clubfoot, also known as structural bilateral talipes, is a condition that affects the movement and position of babies’ feet. It affects about 1 in 1,000 babies. Thanks to medical help, Pete’s son is now doing well.
The Driving Force Behind the Challenge
Pete Cleverly said his son’s strength and resilience motivated him to take on the challenge. “The driving force was our amazing little son, who has been through so much, but if you look at him, you would never know,” Pete shared.
A 24-Hour Event with Over 40 Players
The challenge wasn’t just about Pete. A total of 47 players joined him, all working together to raise money. Pete said he couldn’t sit down during the 24 hours for fear of not being able to stand back up. The matches started every hour, giving him brief moments to eat, drink, and change.
Physical and Emotional Strain
Pete found the experience much harder than he expected. While he knew it would be physically tough, he was surprised by the mental and emotional challenges, especially during the early hours of the event. “Between 01:00 and 04:00, I was not expecting to feel the way I felt,” he said.
A Successful Fundraiser
Pete exceeded his family’s initial fundraising target of £5,000. Thanks to the success of the challenge, he raised much more than that, helping both charities continue their vital work. His son, now 17 months old, is doing great, and Pete is proud of the outcome of the challenge.