User:Dmh79/The Knockout Challenge, Grantham

The Knockout Challenge, Grantham

The annual Knockout Challenge held in Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK is a major community event that has been running since 2009. Founded by Kelly Stewart (nee Kelly Jones), the event was initally intended just to raise money for CLIC Sargent. Kelly Jones was very appreciative of the support she had received when her son, Daniel Coestee, was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 13 years old and wanted to give something back. Having suffered from breast cancer herself just three years before, she found her son's diagnosis difficult to deal with at first and wanted to do something positive instead.

The first Knockout Challenge was held on 30th May 2009, at Kesteven Rugby Football Club. Twenty teams from the local area, all in fancy dress, competed for a junior and senior trophy. 200 people participated in the games. Despite undergoing chemotherapy at the time, Daniel Coestsee captained his own team the Bennington Bees, which won the junior trophy. An estimated 2,000 people attended the event which also had a full range of side attractions, stalls, raffle etc. Following the games, the event continued into the evening with live music from local bands in the clubhouse. The decision to repeat it was made the following day when the committee met to review the event. It took a while to collect all the sponsorship money, but the final figures showed that the 2009 event raised over £13,500 for the charity of which £11,832.78 is recorded online.

In June 2010 the event grew larger with 29 teams from across the East Midlands competing. The villagers and businesses in the local village of Ancaster put in a great deal of effort to support the event. In addition, the family fun day event accompanying the challenge grew to include many more charities and local good causes. During the day participants joined a successful nationwide attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest ever 3–Legged Race (Multiple Venues) as part of National Family Week 2010. Spectators also enjoyed a flypast by a spitfire courtesy of The Royal Air Force who supported the event as part of the Cadet150 celebrations (the Combined Cadet Force of The King's School, Grantham provided the logistical support to hold the first event and were involved again). The 2010 event raised over £11,000 for the charity and was attended by an estimated 3,000 people.

The 2011 event will take place on Saturday 4th June 2011 at a new venue in the town centre.