WEYMOUTH Women manager Natalie Anderson is relishing the chance to raise money for charity as the Terras tackle their ‘Lap the Map’ challenge during lockdown.

Weymouth’s squad is keeping fitness levels high despite a freeze on all grassroots football until Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed.

The Terras have already raised £200 for domestic abuse charity Refuge, with men’s captain Josh McQuoid among the donators.

Weymouth are walking, running and cycling the equivalent length of the UK’s coastline.

Adding to the initiative, the Terras will focus on various locations around the route to delve into the history books of women’s football.

Speaking to Echosport, Anderson said: “During lockdown, with women’s football everything’s been stopped.

“We’ve got to keep the girls going physically and mentally as well.

“I’ve seen a few different clubs do similar things. I thought: ‘What could we do?’ I didn’t want to be copying everyone else!

“So I thought if we did ‘Lap the Map’ and get them walking, running and cycling, clock the distance and plot ourselves round the map of the UK.

“Wherever we rest that evening, we dig up some history on women’s football in that evening to get the word of women’s football out there.

“With Refuge, I didn’t want to be putting it out there and people thinking: ‘We haven’t got the money to do it.’

“Me and Ryan (Asman, director) were thinking we’ll do it but we won’t put a target on it.

“I thought we’d be lucky to get £100 but they’re already up to £200 – I wasn’t expecting it at all.

“Everyone’s got behind it, the men’s first team, and Josh has donated as well.”

On Refuge, Anderson added: “When we first started up we wanted to do something for charity.

“There was a group of kind and generous Weymouth fans. They were going to chip in for the sleeve sponsor and give half for Weymouth Women and half to charity.

“Ryan approached me and said: ‘What do you think of Refuge?’

“Straight away, because of personal experiences, Refuge is a cause close to my heart. I thought it would be amazing and suits me as manager to a tee.

“I approached the girls about it and they had the same sort of attitude.

“We managed to get the partnership and make them our chosen charity. You’d obviously want to do some charity matches.

“But with lockdown it’s not going to happen. We can do this, keep them fit and gives them a target to work to.

“All round, it helps everything, so it was a no-brainer.”

To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/weymouth-f-c-women

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