A MAN from Caversham has set himself a football challenge to raise money for the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) – a similar challenge to one he took part in 26 years ago.

Graham Neale, 53, has set himself the task of doing 1000 football ‘keepy uppys’ without the ball touching the ground (within five attempts) to raise money for the RBH during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Neale took part in a similar challenge back in 1994 where he tried and succeeded in doing 2000 ‘keepy uppys’ to raise money for RBH’s children’s ward.

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26 years ago, he managed to raise £505 and this time he hopes to raise £5,000.

So far he has raised £720 of his target. To donate click here.

Mr Neale wants the event to be held at the Rivermead Centre on May 9 where his first challenge took place.

He hopes the UK will be out of lockdown by then.

When he began training on April 17, Mr Neale had not kicked a ball in two decades and could only manage three ‘keepy uppys’.

Training for four to five hours a day has meant he has been able to 1000 ‘keepy uppys’ three times.

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However, he said it has been “hard work” and he still has a “long way to go” adding he wants to be able to achieve this number consistently.

He said listening to music has helped him to find some rhythm and do more ‘keepy uppies’.

Mr Neale explained his auntie passed away at the weekend having tested positive for coronavirus.

He said it has “made me more dedicated to try and do it now”.

Mr Neale added he was inspired by Captain Tom Moore’s fundraising efforts which saw the 99-year-old walk 100 lengths of his garden raising more than £29 million for the NHS.

He is raising money for the RBH in which he said its staff “are doing a fantastic job” but need more PPE.

Mr Neale said the challenge has given him something positive to focus on during the lockdown.