Cambridgeshire darts team play non-stop for 49 hours to raise money for Parkinson's

April 19, 2016

Million and one darts challenge at Exhibition Pub in Over - raising money for Parkinson's Disease after darts team memberGraham Cullum was diagnosed. Front, centre, Michelle Henderson a regional fundraiser for Parkinsons UK with the players taking part in the event. Picture: Warren Gunn

An amateur team of darts players have taken a charity fundraiser to another level when they played the game non-stop for two days.

John Warkcup, landlord of The Exhibition Pub, in Over, was joined by 10 other players in the Million and one darts challenge which started on Friday and ended on Sunday after 49 hours and 55 minutes.

Players started off on 1,000,001 points - a twist on the traditional leg of darts which is usually played over 501 points - then threw darts around-the-clock to complete the game before ending on a double.

The team, who plays for Willingham Darts League and the Cambridgeshire Mens Super League, is now on its way to raising £3,000 for Parkinson's UK after its former captain Graham Cullum was diagnosed with the disease last December.

And their efforts were not too far off the world record which was completed in 46 hours by a professional team.

Mr Warkcup said the team wanted to do something to say thank you to the charity for helping Graham cope with the disease.

"We decided because the only help he was getting from the NHS - they were just giving him tablets - we said he's a different person he's not the jolly chap he was. We said we will raise some money for Parkinson's and they can put him in contact with counselling and helping him out, which is what they've done and they've been fantastic," he told the News.

"We needed to take it upon ourselves, some of the players have known him for 30 years.

It's our way of thanking Parkinson's UK for the help they are giving Graham because there's only so much we can do as friends by keeping him as happy as he is."

Teams of three took it in turns to play 10,000 points before handing over to the next team while beds were set up in the pub's restaurant for them to sleep on in between.

And the community kept them fed during their marathon effort.

"People have been kind enough and generous enough to bring food in to feed the darts players over the weekend," added Mr Warkcup. "It's just been amazing, their generosity has been fantastic.

"Graham was chuffed to bits. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when we finished it. It was amazing, absolutely amazing."

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridgeshire-darts-team-play-non-stop-49-hours/story-29132233-detail/story.html#1