How the Harlequins player beat Dan Carter’s 24-hour kicking record for an important cause
Ella Cromack during the challenge / Courtesy of Ella Cromack
20-year-old rugby star, Ella Cromack, completed a 24-hour charity kickathon last weekend, to raise money for life prolonging treatment for her dad’s incurable brain tumour.
The Harlequins and U20 England player started the conversion challenge at midday on Friday, hoping to raise £16,000 for her dad to afford two more glioblastoma treatments in Germany.
The challenge took place at her team’s home stadium, Twickenham Stoop, and saw Ella kick a minimum of 50 attempted conversions every hour until midday on the Saturday.
“I knew physically it was going to be tough, but mentally knowing I was doing it for my dad and raising money for him, made it a lot easier,” she says.
On November 162023, Ella Cromack’s father was diagnosed with a high-grade primary tumour and although glioblastoma is incurable, there are treatments available in Germany to extend his life.
As the treatments are unavailable on the NHS, the cost of help is a lot but Ella’s fundraising efforts can help her dad can live past the 95% of glioblastoma sufferers that pass away within two years of diagnosis.
“£16,000 means two treatments out in Cologne and they happen every six to eight weeks. So ultimately that means 12 to 16 more weeks with dad and him being healthy and getting the treatment he needs,” she says.
Ella had planned to reach 1611 kicks during the challenge, the number reflective of Mr Cromacks diagnosis date however, she quickly surpassed this just eight and a half hours into the challenge.
The total of 3580 kicks meant she more than doubled her original target, whilst also getting a new world record to see her beat Dan Carter’s initial 1598 kicks in 24 hours.
“[Carter’s] always been an idol that I’ve looked up to as I’ve grown up and throughout my rugby journey, so I think there was a bit of shock that I’d beaten him. He’s still my idol though, so it’s fine,” she says.
Ella Cromack during the challenge / Courtesy of Ella Cromack
Ella received good luck messages from the likes of Dan Carter, Ilona Maher and Marcus Smith but mostly praises the support from those closest to her, including her two old college coaches that supported through nearly every hour.
She also praises her best friends and the popcorn throughout which helped her, especially during the 4am stints when most of the people around her were asleep in The Stoop’s function room.
But the most heart-warming moment was for the final 100 kicks when Ella walked out with her father under a surprise guard of honour by this support system.
“I walked out of the changing room and dad was stood there and then I’d realised they’d created a guard of honour. There was a lot of emotion, I was trying to suppress it until the challenge was over, but it was still surreal and full of emotions,” she says.
It only took Ella 30 minutes of sleep, one flat white and one energy drink to complete the challenge, raising nearly £13,000 and succeeding kicking expectations from everyone, including herself.
“It’s been truly amazing to see the amount of people that have shared and donated, we’re just very grateful as a family. We’ve had so much support already and I’m so grateful for the amount of donations we’ve had,” she says.
She was allowed to miss camp on Friday but the next challenge for Ella is recovery. After a quick turnaround of two days off (which were predominantly physio), she is already back to training and her rugby career.
For Ella and her family though, this is more than a world record challenge, it is time with their father and husband and an opportunity to afford his prolonged future.
The challenge’s gofundme has now surpassed £14,000, but you can help the Cromack’s reach their £16,000 target by donating here.
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