SuperDads show the spirit of Christmas

By Matt Badcock

FUNDRAISER: Damian Scannell

PICTURE: Duncan Palmer

FORMER Fisher and Dulwich Hamlet teammates Damian Scannell and Francis Duku have joined forces with the aim of delivering 75 Christmas hampers to those in need in south London.

Scannell, the former Dagenham & Redbridge, Eastleigh, Sutton United, Bromley and Tonbridge Angels winger, has raised more than £20,000 for under-privileged children in the last three years through SuperDads – ahealth and wellbeing service he set up to encourage men to take their health seriously.

On Christmas Eve, he will lead a group of around 15 men – in their Christmas jumpers – on a half-marathon with the aim to hit £4,000 to purchase hampers for the community.

The pair are hoping local businesses will lend their support with the added bonus of Duku’s Our Game Community Scheme helping raise their profile in Non-League football as a thank you.

Scannell told The NLP: “In the pandemic I was running and thought, ‘the niche I work with is fathers and I could kill two birds with one stone here’. So we did a live challenge over the Christmas period and raised £1,000. We worked alongside a local grocer’s, who raised money as well so we had £1,500.

“It wasn’t just the hampers were handed out, but the community became so strong. Dads were working together, local grocers, the community of my partner, who runs a similar community for women, came together – it was also the camaraderie behind it as well as handing out hampers.

“When we actually handed out the hampers to people, we saw the value. People were struggling, they lost their jobs in the pandemic and the economy was tough. We saw the reaction of local families and thought, ‘We’ve got to keep this up’.

“So every quarter we do something. Christmas is the big one – last year we saw families crying so it’s something we will do for as long as we can.

“It’s important people have everyday influences in their life that are positive. Rather than turn on the telly and look at superhero type figures, I think it’s important we have community members actively giving back.

“It’s also good to see that impression that men care and genuinely want to give back – and we’re getting healthier and fitter along the way!”

Former Kingstonian defender Duku’s support will come through his Our Game service.

Duku said: “The Non-League community is very wide-ranging and reaches into a lot of areas and having first hand experience of the support of Fisher and Dulwich Hamlet fans and the role the clubs play in their local communities, Damian and myself are hopeful of reaching and exceeding our target and being able to help as many families as possible.”

You can donate at http://bit.ly/3W4gZBZ or contact communityscheme@ourgamefootball. com for more information.