Batting Against Parkinson's — 12-Hour Cricket Net Marathon for Parkinson's UK
Batting Against Parkinson's is a 12-hour indoor cricket net marathon raising funds for Parkinson's UK, held at PowerPlay indoor cricket centre in Surrey on Saturday 20 February 2027. Event founder Daryn Potgieter lives with Parkinson's and opens the batting for his county disability cricket side. He will anchor the net with two overs at the top of every hour, while a relay of club cricketers, disability players, juniors, women's teams and cricket YouTubers keeps the net alive for the full 12 hours. Every run scored by anyone, all day, counts on one live tracker.
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Every pound goes directly to Parkinson's UK.
“We want to say a massive thank you to Daryn for organising 'Batting Against Parkinson's.' Around 166,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson's, and it's the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. We rely on brilliant independent fundraisers like Daryn to help us fund our vital work. This 12-hour cricket marathon is a brilliant, creative initiative, and we are so grateful for his continued, tireless support.”
— Neil Flack, Community Fundraiser for London at Parkinson's UK
What is Batting Against Parkinson's?
Batting Against Parkinson's is a community fundraising event built around one idea: a cricket net that never stops for 12 hours. Daryn cannot bat for 12 hours straight, and his hands do not always do what he asks of them. So instead of a solo endurance attempt, the event is a relay. Daryn opens each hour with two overs, and guest batters take the rest: local clubs, disability squads, juniors, women's teams, sponsors and cricket content creators, each keeping the stream of runs alive.
When and where is it happening?
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 20 February 2027 |
| Venue | PowerPlay indoor cricket centre, Surrey |
| Duration | 12 continuous hours of batting |
| Batting slots | 120 slots — adults £30 for 24 balls, under-16s £15 for 12 balls, club teams of four £120 |
| Charity | Parkinson's UK — every donation goes directly to the charity |
| Watch | Live streamed all day with an on-screen donation link |
Why is Daryn doing this?
In 2024, Daryn was told he could not take part in an organised National Three Peaks Challenge because of his Parkinson's diagnosis. He completed it independently instead, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa inside 24 hours, raising funds for Parkinson's UK and suicide prevention. Batting Against Parkinson's is the next challenge, built on the same principle: your ability is not governed by your disability. Read the full story on My Odyssey.
How can I take part?
Book a batting slot: £30 gives adults 24 balls to score as many runs as they can, and £15 gives under-16s 12 balls. Clubs can enter a team of four batters for £120 and compete on the inter-club leaderboard. There are prizes for the most runs off 24 balls, the best women's score, the best junior score, and the best single over of the day — each wins a free Batting Against Parkinson's T-shirt. Register your interest below — it's free, and slots are allocated first come, first served. You can also donate on the JustGiving page at any time, sponsor a run milestone, or watch the live stream and share the day using #BattingAgainstParkinsons.
Register for a batting slot
Registering interest is free and puts you at the front of the queue. Slots are limited to 120 and confirmed first come, first served. The date is set: Saturday 20 February 2027.
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Where does the money go?
All donations made through the JustGiving page go directly to Parkinson's UK, the UK's leading charity for people affected by Parkinson's. Around 166,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson's, and it is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Parkinson's UK funds research toward new treatments and a cure, specialist Parkinson's nurses, and the support and advice lines that people living with the condition rely on every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official Parkinson's UK event? Batting Against Parkinson's is an independent community fundraiser organised in aid of Parkinson's UK, with the support of the charity's community fundraising team. All donations go directly to Parkinson's UK, registered charity 258197 in England and Wales and SC037554 in Scotland.
Can anyone take a turn in the nets? Yes. Slots are open to cricket clubs, disability squads, women's teams, juniors, businesses and individuals of all abilities. Adults face 24 balls (£30), under-16s face 12 balls (£15) with parental consent, and clubs can enter teams of four (£120). Register your interest now using the form on this page — slots are confirmed first come, first served for Saturday 20 February 2027.
Do I need cricket experience to attend? No. Spectators are welcome all day, the live stream is free to watch, and the run tracker makes the day easy to follow whether or not you know the game.
How does Daryn bat with Parkinson's? In short bursts. Daryn anchors two overs at the top of every hour, with scheduled rest between appearances. The format is designed with medical guidance to keep the challenge safe.
Can children take part? Yes. Under-16s face 12 balls for £15, with their own leaderboard and T-shirt prize. A parent or guardian must complete a consent form at booking, covering participation and the live stream.
Can I donate if I cannot attend? Yes. The JustGiving page is open now and stays open after the event, and the live stream carries a donation link all day.
Is there an official event T-shirt? Yes. The official Batting Against Parkinson's T-shirt is available now from Odyssey Camp & Co — the same shirt awarded to the event's leaderboard winners.
Help the runs count for something bigger.
Batting Against Parkinson's is organised by Daryn Potgieter, founder of Odyssey Camp & Co., in aid of Parkinson's UK (registered charity 258197 in England and Wales, SC037554 in Scotland). The event and this page are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any professional player, cricket team or governing body. Donations are made directly to Parkinson's UK via JustGiving; Odyssey Camp & Co. does not handle donation funds.
