For immediate release.

A 20-year friendship between the Chelsea Pensioners and Beccehamian RFC takes another step as the community comes together for a unique 24-hour challenge

Beccehamian RFC is bringing its whole community together for an incredible 24-hour sponsored walking challenge on Saturday 3 October 2026, with three Chelsea Pensioners joining the club to help raise funds for the next stage of the Beccs Big Build.

The challenge will begin at 2pm on Saturday 3 October 2026 at Beccehamian RFC’s home at Sparrow’s Den in West Wickham, with the walk continuing continuously for 24 hours until 2pm on Sunday 4 October.

Players, families, supporters and members from across the club will take turns throughout the challenge, with participants from the Minis, Juniors, Girls, Ladies, Men’s, Vets, Academy, Walking Rugby, Micros, Super Veterans and Social sections all getting involved.

But this is more than just a sponsored walk.

A 20-year friendship with the Chelsea Pensioners

For 20 years, Beccehamian has enjoyed a very special relationship with the Chelsea Pensioners, who have regularly been welcomed to the club for lunches and events and have become much-loved members of the Beccehamian family.

The Pensioners have also been part of some important moments in the club’s recent history, including helping to celebrate the opening of Beccehamian RFC’s new changing facilities (in March 2025, picture below), delivered as part of the Beccs Big Build.

Now, the friendship is taking another step forward.

Three Chelsea Pensioners will join the 24-hour challenge, with one Pensioner walking alongside participants throughout the entire 24 hours. At the end of the challenge, all three will come together to complete the final stages in their iconic scarlet uniforms.

Building the future of Beccs

The sponsored walk is raising funds for the Beccs Big Build an ambitious project to transform the Beccehamian clubhouse and create facilities that will benefit the club and wider community for many years to come.

The project has already seen the completion of new changing facilities, providing improved and more appropriate accommodation for the club’s growing membership, including its thriving women’s and girls’ sections.

The club has also completed its much-loved roof terrace, providing an additional social space overlooking the pitches.

The next goal is to complete the new enlarged social space, together with a lift and improved disabled facilities.

The aim is to create a modern, welcoming and accessible facility that can be enjoyed not only by Beccehamian members and their families, but also by the wider community.

The project has already received support through crowdfunding, grants, donations, sponsored events, Christmas raffles and numerous other fundraising initiatives.

The 24-hour sponsored walk is the latest in a long line of community fundraising efforts to help bring the full vision of the Beccs Big Build to life.

Dave Sweeting, President of Beccehamian RFC, said:

“The relationship between Beccehamian RFC and the Chelsea Pensioners is something we’re incredibly proud of. For 20 years they’ve been coming to the club for lunches and events, and they’ve become a very special part of the Beccehamian family. We’ve been delighted to share some important moments with them, including the opening of our new changing facilities, and our relationship has continued to grow through our shared love of rugby and walking rugby.”

“Having three Chelsea Pensioners join us for this 24-hour challenge is incredibly special. The Beccs Big Build has already achieved so much, but we still have an important final stage ahead of us. We want to complete our enlarged social space, improve accessibility and install a lift so that our facilities can be enjoyed by everyone. We’re hoping the wider community and local businesses will get behind the challenge and help us go the distance.”

Chelsea Pensioner, Pat Callaghan said:

“We’ve always felt very welcome at Beccehamians and over the years the club has become a very special place for us. We’ve enjoyed many lunches and events there and it’s been wonderful to see the club develop, particularly being there to celebrate the opening of the new changing facilities. Through the Scarlet Warriors and our shared love of walking rugby, that friendship has grown even further. We’re delighted to be taking part in the 24-hour walk and look forward to walking alongside the Beccehamian community, helping to raise funds for the next stage of the Beccs Big Build.”

A challenge for the whole community

The club is encouraging people of all ages and abilities to take part.

Participants don’t need to walk for the full 24 hours. Individuals, teams, families and club sections can sign up for an hour or more and raise sponsorship for their participation.

The club is also hoping to attract rugby players, former internationals, sporting personalities, celebrities and local heroes to join the challenge for an hour and walk alongside the Chelsea Pensioners and Beccehamian members.

Local businesses and organisations are also being invited to support the event, either by sponsoring the challenge as a whole or by supporting specific elements.

Sponsorship opportunities include the Presenting Sponsor (£2,500), Gold Sponsor (£1,000), Silver Sponsor (£500) and Community Sponsor (£250), with bespoke sponsorship and in-kind support also welcomed.

Businesses can also support specific elements of the event, including food and refreshments, first aid and welfare, start and finish facilities, event equipment, raffle prizes, individual hours, teams or participants.

The organisers believe the event will be not only a significant fundraising opportunity, but also a celebration of the community that has grown around the club.

24 HOURS. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE BIG BUILD.

Beccehamian RFC is calling on local businesses, families, former players, supporters and the wider community to get involved – whether by walking, sponsoring a participant, sponsoring part of the event, donating a raffle prize or simply coming along to support the walkers.

Event: Beccehamian RFC 24-Hour Sponsored Walk
Date: Saturday 3 October – Sunday 4 October 2026
Start: 2pm, Saturday 3 October
Finish: 2pm, Sunday 4 October
Location: Beccehamian RFC, Sparrow’s Den, Corkscrew Hill, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 9BB
Fundraising: The Beccs Big Build
Special guests: Three Chelsea Pensioners
Media contact: Sarah McCandless
Email: beccehamianfundraising@gmail.com
Fundraising Link: Beccs 24-Hour Walk with the Chelsea Pensioners

Club Website: Beccs 24-Hour Sponsored Walk with The Chelsea Pensioners: Saturday 3th to Sunday 4th October 2026

About Beccehamian RFC

Beccehamian RFC is a community rugby club based at Sparrow’s Den in West Wickham. The club brings together players and families across Minis, Juniors, Girls, Ladies, Men’s, Vets, Academy, Walking Rugby, Micros, Super Veterans and Social Rugby.

The club is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and community-focused environment and to developing facilities that can support its members and the wider community for generations to come.

About the Beccs Big Build

The Beccs Big Build is a long-term project to transform and improve Beccehamian RFC’s facilities. New changing facilities and the club’s roof terrace have already been completed. The next stage is the completion of the enlarged social space, together with improved disabled facilities and a lift, creating a more accessible and inclusive clubhouse for the future.

For sponsorship enquiries:
Sarah McCandless – beccehamianfundraising@gmail.com

24 HOURS. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE BIG BUILD.

SPONSOR • SUPPORT • WALK WITH US