24 Hours of Soccer a Rousing Success!
For the second summer in a row, hundreds of soccer players came to Hunnewell Field in Wellesley to play soccer barefoot for 24 hours straight, while raising thousands of dollars to help prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa.  The 2011 edition of 24 Hours of Soccer was a huge success, raising more than $12,000 and attracting more than 300 registered participants. 

The event, which was held from 6:00 pm Friday, August 19 through 6:00 pm Saturday, August 20, attracted large numbers of soccer players of all ages, sexes and skill levels.  Players ranged in age from 4 to 74.  In many instances, entire families were on the field.  All participants played barefoot in solidarity with African children who often cannot afford shoes. 

All proceeds from the event go to Grassroot Soccer, a charity based in Norwich, Vermont that teaches AIDS prevention to African children using soccer to facilitate its educational mission. Grassroot Soccer was founded by a former professional soccer player who was born in Scotland, played in Africa, and later went to medical school at Dartmouth.  Grassroot Soccer has educated more than 400,000 African children about AIDS prevention.  The money we raised will provide more than 480 kids with the knowledge and life skills to fight HIV.  Additional donations can be made directly on Grassroot Soccer's web site.  Please add a note online referencing 24 Hours of Soccer to associate your donation with this event.

Thank you
The organizers of 24 Hours of Soccer, Owen Diana, Lee Wickham, Ian Speers and their families, are grateful for the generous support of the event’s many sponsors, including Health Advances LLC, which donated the T-shirts given to each participant, Deland Gibson, which defrayed operating expenses, and Atent for Rent, Inc., which donated the use of a large tent.  Health Advances also designated 24 Hours of Soccer as its quarterly staff-wide community service event, and a large number of its employees helped with event set-up and participated as players.  Also stepping-up to help were several donors who kept the players fed and hydrated throughout the 24 hour event, including Whole Foods, Roche Brothers, Upper Crust Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, The Linden Store, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, and Bruegger’s Bagels.  

See you next year!
Planning is already underway for the third annual 24 Hours of Soccer!  Highlights from 2011 are captured in photos below and in our web photo galleries.