An 11-Year-old Girl Has Completed 7.1 Million Keepy-uppies, To Raise Money For Key Workers

An 11-year-old footballer has done 7.1 million keepy-uppies, one for every UK key worker, to raise money for various charities.

An 11-year-old girl has completed 7.1 million keepy-uppies, one for every UK key worker, to raise money for various charities. Imogen Papworth-Heidel completed a total of 1,123,586 keepy-uppies during a consecutive 195-day run, reaching more than 7,000 a day during lockdown and the summer break. The remaining 5,976,414 were donated by around 2,000 people, they even recorded videos of themselves joining in the challenge. The most high profile participant is Manchester United and England star, Marcus Rashford even emailing his attempts to her parents.

The youngster’s major inspiration is Captain Sir Tom Moore, who completed 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money for the National Health Service. She decided that she would do 1 keepy-uppy for every essential worker in the UK. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated the figure, with around 22% of all working-age people in the UK employed in key worker occupations. The 11 year-old began by completing 200 keepy-uppies per day but her parents calculated it would take her 97 years to complete the challenge. As others found out about the remarkable cause, they started to step in and assist.

Papworth-Heidel’s dad claims that he was “sitting there counting up till about midnight some nights doing it, just trying to put the latest figures out.” One of the most interesting attempts came from a patient having chemotherapy who did keepy-uppies with a balloon next to her hospital bed.

It is clear to say that her parents are proud, her dad, saying “I think the most amazing thing about it is the number of people that she has inspired to have got out there, to have started practising keepy-uppies.” and stating that she could have been playing on her XBOX or computer, but instead, going “out into the garden, rain or shine, and just banged them out.”

The young footballer has been honored in the FA’s Lionhearts squad, which gives thanks to 23 inspirational “everyday heroes” who have gone above and beyond during this pressing time. She managed to raise 10,800 Pounds for establishments like the NHS, The Care Workers Charity, Education Support and Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, among others. This is just one of the many heart-warming stories about the football world. Through football Papworth-Heidel managed to find a spot of unity, solidarity and passion during this unprecedented time. Even with all of the uncertainty, this should give us all hope that the people can still come together in support of one another.

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