Athletics athletes such as Lynn Davies, Keely Hodgkinson, Colin Jackson and Mo Farah have shown their artistic talents by contributing to Fleet’s book project for the CRY charity.
Mike Fleet, former middle distance international and long-time coach of Croydon Harriers, is leading a unique project to raise money for the charity.
The 86-year-old is collecting hand-drawn sketches of the world’s top athletes to create a special book, with all proceeds going to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
The charity is particularly important to Fleet and Croydon Harriers after two members of the club tragically died from undiagnosed conditions, and Fleet aims to honor these athletes and raise funds for the charity.
His connection to athletics runs deep. As an athlete, he finished fifth in the 1962 Empire Games 880 yard final, a race made famous by Peter Snell. Since his retirement, he has remained an influential figure as a coach, photographer and supporter of countless events.
Although he collects artwork from athletes in various sports, his main focus has been on athletics, his area of expertise.
Over the last three years he has secured 85 drawings from big names like Lynn Davies, Keely Hodgkinson, Colin Jackson and the list goes on.
“Some pictures are absolutely brilliant, some are very funny, some are very simple,” says Fleet. “They date from the 1936 Olympics to today.”
One memorable contribution came from Mo Farah, who admitted he couldn’t draw but still drew “a lovely little scribbling Mobot”, says Fleet.
“One big one I have is from Herb Elliott, he’s a big, big hero of mine. He was one of the greatest milers ever, never lost a mile, held a world record and was an Olympic gold medalist. It was brilliant because he did me a super caricature of himself, just like Alan Wells, the Olympic champion in Moscow.”
Fleet’s aim is to collect 100 drawings before the book is compiled, which will be auctioned off to raise money for CRY.
“I want it to be something for people to see as something worth buying at auction,” says Fleet. “The plan is to go to a major auction and I’m told I could get £3,000 or more.”
“I also hope to make 25 facsimile books and possibly sell them for £50 each, so the project is more than one book.”
This isn’t Fleet’s first fundraiser for CRY. He has done several charity projects over the years, including writing a detailed book on Croydon Harriers entitled Croydon Harriers History 1920-2020, with all proceeds going to charity.
He has also authored a coaching book titled: Don’t rub your armpit eggscovering in detail every athletics event that AW: revised earlier this year.
“It would be great if more Olympians could support this very good cause in memory of the thousands of athletes and others who sadly die from undiagnosed heart conditions,” says Fleet.
“CRY is doing research in South London and they’re monitoring groups of athletes while putting heart monitors on them and checking them all over the place. They also do counseling and bereavement counseling, it’s such a good cause.”
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