Track and field athletes such as Lynn Davies, Keely Hodgkinson, Colin Jackson and Mo Farah have been showcasing their artistic talents by contributing to Fleet’s book charity project for the charity Project CRY
Mike Fleet, a former middle-distance international athlete and long-time coach at Croydon Harriers, is leading a unique charity project to raise money for a charitable cause.
The 86-year-old is gathering hand-drawn sketches from some of the world’s top athletes to create a special book, with all proceeds going to the charity project Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
The charity project is especially meaningful to Fleet and Croydon Harriers after two members of the club tragically passed away from undiagnosed conditions, and Fleet’s goal is to honour those athletes and to raise funds for the charity.
His connection to athletics runs deep. As an athlete, he finished fifth in the 880 yards final at the 1962 Empire Games, a race famously won by Peter Snell. Since retiring he has remained an influential figure as a coach, photographer and supporter of countless events.
Though he is collecting artwork from athletes across various sports, his main focus has been track and field – his own area of expertise.
Over the past three years, he has secured 85 drawings from big names like Lynn Davies, Keely Hodgkinson, Colin Jackson – and the list goes on.
“Some of the drawings are absolutely brilliant, some are very funny, some are very simple,” Fleet says. “They date back from the 1936 Olympics to today.”
One memorable contribution came from Mo Farah, who admitted he couldn’t draw but still drew a “nice little scribbly Mobot,” says Fleet.
“One great one I have is from Herb Elliott, he is a great, great hero of mine. He was one of the greatest milers ever, never lost a mile race, had a world record and was an Olympic gold medallist. It was brilliant because he did me a super caricature of himself, as did Allan Wells, the Olympic champion in Moscow.”
Fleet’s goal is to collect 100 drawings before compiling the book, which will be auctioned to raise money for CRY.
“I want it to be something that people see as being something worth buying at an auction,” says Fleet. “The plan is to go to major auction and I am told I could maybe get £3000 or more.”
“I am also hoping to do 25 facsimile books and maybe sell them for £50 each, so the charity project is just more than one book.”
Fleet’s Fundraising Efforts for CRY Continue with Art and Literature
This is not Fleet’s first fundraising effort for CRY. He has completed several charity projects over the years, including writing a detailed book of Croydon Harriers, titled Croydon Harriers History 1920-2020, with all proceeds going to charity project.
He has also authored a coaching book with title of Don’t Crush the Eggs in Your Armpit, covering every track and field event in detail, which AW reviewed earlier this year.
“It would be great if more Olympians could support this very good cause in memory of thousands of athletes and other sportsmen who sadly die of undiagnosed heart conditions,” says Fleet.
“CRY carry out research in South London and they monitor groups of athletes, whilst putting heart monitors on them and checking them all over. They also carry out bereavement counseling and advice, it’s such a good cause.”
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There are, but in every case bunches of critical individuals who thump noble cause particularly in the event that the cash isn’t spent in our nation, accepting that ‘noble cause starts at home’. Numerous causes in the Unified Realm in all actuality do help the nearby individuals from vagrancy to disease help, yet as of late global guide – helping other people in various nations is quite possibly of the most controversial region in the willful area.
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