Newcastle Eagles teamed up with local firm Mears last week, for a charity event with a competitive twist.

Mears who provide repairs and maintenance on behalf of The Gateshead Housing Company set up the day to raise money for local charity, the Eagles Community Foundation. Ten teams played a total of 18 games, with teams being made up of Mears’ staff and suppliers including Travis Perkins, Jewson, Peter Cox, Henderson and Sekura, and overall the event raised a fantastic £2,000 for the Foundation.

The Eagles Community Foundation (ECF) aims to grow levels of sustainable basketball participation in Tyne and Wear and South East Northumberland. ECF delivers basketball at both junior & senior level from grassroots to performance, linking to healthy living and educational training; outcomes include the development of community clubs.

The money raised by Mears will go towards the Hoops4Health programme which has seen more than 112 primary schools receive a healthy living roadshow, coaching, and tournament. The key to the programme is in the utilisation of Eagles players to push forward a primary message of physical activity and eating healthily to stay alive.

Well done to team ‘The filling hoops’ who won the tournament on behalf of mechanical services firm D. J McGough!

Deidre Hayes, General Manager of the Eagles Community Foundation said “As a charity the support of organisations is vital to the work we do within the community. This event and the support of Mears was wonderful. It was a great event to engage with people and get them on the basketball court in a fun, competitive atmosphere where at the same time they were raising money for the work we do in the community – the same community in which Mears work. It is a great partnership and we hope that it can become an annual event”

Tom Brown, Branch Manager at Mears said “I would like to thank the Eagles for putting together an excellent event that all participants thoroughly enjoyed. It combined the fun aspect of basketball with the right amount of competitive team spirit, the balance was just right to get everyone from all standards involved. The enthusiasm from the Eagles staff seemed to rub off on everyone throughout the day with smiling faces winning over from aching limbs. If I could also thank all teams involved for their generous support towards the Eagles community fund & for a superb day all round.”