Big-hearted players from Cleveland Basketball Club are set to scale Scafell Pike in the hope of raising £10,000 for their club

A group of hardy youngsters will be swapping the basketball pitch to take on another sporting challenge. Six young players from Cleveland Basketball Club are preparing to take on the Cash for Kids’ sponsored walk up Scafell Pike to raise money for the club.

The youngsters, including six-year-old Valentina Vanes, Oliver McWilliam, and Willow Toulson, both ten, will make the climb on October 24 as part of Cash for Kids’ annual Sports Challenge. Cleveland Basketball Club was one of 14 clubs selected to take part in this year’s challenge, with the group now hoping to raise £10,000 and finish at the top of the Cash for Kids leader board.

The club has already seen players of all ages get behind its fundraising efforts to date, but head coach Tom Robinson said he was particularly impressed to see some of its youngest members volunteer to take on the demanding walk. He said: "I’m proud of the fact we are an incredibly hard-working club, on and off the court.

"That runs through the entire club from our seniors to juniors. The moment there's a challenge, a fundraising opportunity or event, our players jump right in.

"I was extremely impressed to see some of our youngest sign up for the Scafell Pike challenge. It’s a tough walk, but they’re all raring to go.”

Fundraising efforts will be put towards opportunities designed to help its young players develop both within basketball and beyond it.

This includes funding coaching and officiating courses, giving youngsters the chance to gain qualifications and take on new responsibilities within the sport. The club also plans to run a Youth First Aid course, providing players with practical skills that could prove valuable away from the basketball court.

The fundraising will also help launch C3L, a new monthly 3x3 competition which will give young players from Cleveland Basketball Club and local schools more chances to play competitively. It could also help the club provide national-level opportunities for its Under-18s and ensure there is enough safe, suitable and up-to-date kit for its growing number of players.

For the six youngsters taking part, the first priority is now completing the Scafell Pike walk before the fundraising deadline arrives. All money must be raised and submitted to Cash for Kids by October 26, just two days after the challenge.

The club is hoping the local community will get behind the players as they take on the climb and work towards a target that could help create more opportunities for young people involved in basketball across the area. To make a donation visit here.