Leighton Buzzard badminton player holds ‘Coronalympics’ in memory of his sister

Andy Sadler, 29, hosted the ‘Badminton Coronalympics’ during lockdown, as he posted exciting tricks on social media for viewers to try at home.

The games raised an impressive £673 for Keech Hospice Care, with Andy choosing the charity because they cared for his sister Sam, 37, during her battle with cancer.

Andy said: “I’d heard that Keech Hospice Care was struggling to raise funds, so I wanted to do something because I have been involved with Keech in the past when my sister was at the end of her life.

“My badminton skills were also getting a bit choppy - so I could keep practising while raising money. There was a mixture of challenges, for example putting out a candle with a shuttlecock.

“It reached out to people across the world - there was also a man in India who joined in with his children.”

Andy, who plays for Houghton Regis Badminton Club, would like to thank everyone who supported him, especially his sister Rachael Bates, 38, Sam’s daughter, Aimèe Sadler, 18, and his friend Emma Billington, 29.

Andy said: “Sam was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2013. It went into remission briefly, but it came back with a vengeance. She was in Keech for a couple of months in 2017, and around mid-May time, when I started coronalympics, it was near the anniversary of her death [May 16].

“She was a sports therapist, she loved hiking, and had climbed Snowdon a few times. She would give anything a go.

“The cancer really took its toll and she was barely recognisable at the end. But she never lost her sense of humour.”

Praising Keech, Andy added: “They were fantastic. We were allowed to stay over and bring Sam’s dog, Basil, in to visit. A lot of people don’t realise the impact these awesome people have until they go through it themselves. But people should know about it without having to go through what my family went through. They are amazing.

“Spend as much time with your family as possible; you won’t get a second chance.”

Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/badminton-coronalympics