A MALDON-based martial art club has helped raised thousands for an important charity after putting on a demanding 24-hour challenge.

Gracie Barra Maldon, based in the Old Ironworks, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and self-defence club which has raised more than £8,000 for Farleigh Hospice.

The funds were raised by adult and youth members of the  club and its Chelmsford counterpart, thanks to a 24-hour non-stop ‘Grapplethon’ which took place on April 20-21.

The event involved at least one sparring pair on the mat at all times.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Sparring - Members of the Maldon and Chelmsford clubs during the rolling sessions Sparring - Members of the Maldon and Chelmsford clubs during the rolling sessions (Image: Farleigh Hospice)

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Committed - an image from GB Maldon's little champion class Committed - an image from GB Maldon's little champion class (Image: Gracie Bara Maldon)

 

Beth Carroll, 26, the programme director for Gracie Barra Maldon, who is also a qualified personal trainer and started at the club practicing jiu-jitsu as a hobby, helped organise the fundraiser.

Many of the Maldon club’s 140 members signed up for the sparring sessions.

Once their time was up they would tag in the next members.

Beth completed around six hours in total across both days.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: On the mat - two Gracie Barra members during the grapplethonOn the mat - two Gracie Barra members during the grapplethon (Image: Farleigh Hospice)

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Fundraising - Beth Carroll pictured bottom right in a white gi with her blue belt, and fellow club membersFundraising - Beth Carroll pictured bottom right in a white gi with her blue belt, and fellow club members (Image: Farleigh Hospice)

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Tiring - Gracie Barra Maldon and Chelmsford members at midnight Tiring - Gracie Barra Maldon and Chelmsford members at midnight (Image: Gracie Barra Maldon)

 

She said: “It was such a good buzz. There was a good atmosphere across the whole day.

“I knew I wouldn’t survive doing the whole 24 hours, so I went home, and then I came back in the morning around 5am and was buzzing to go back into the gym. I was excited to help out.

“We all worked as a team. We planned it out. The hardest hours were the 1am, 2am and 3am shifts.”

“We normally do it in five-minute intervals. I did the first five minutes on Sunday and my body was broken - the Sunday was hard.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is based on grappling, ground fighting and submission holds, and normally focuses on taking an opponent down to the ground by using different techniques learned through training.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Happy - Robert Simpson, black belt and head professor at Gracie Barra Maldon and his wife, Emily Dgebuadze Happy - Robert Simpson, black belt and head professor at Gracie Barra Maldon and his wife, Emily Dgebuadze (Image: Farleigh Hospice)

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Proud - youngster Sidney Wilcock-Polley who won the Kids' mat champion award at the Grapplethon for raising the most money for Farleigh HospiceProud - youngster Sidney Wilcock-Polley who won the Kids' mat champion award at the Grapplethon for raising the most money for Farleigh Hospice (Image: Gracie Barra Maldon)

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Staff - Gracie Barra coach Tom on the podium with double gold at a previous eventStaff - Gracie Barra coach Tom on the podium with double gold at a previous event (Image: Gracie Barra Maldon)

Overall, Beth is thrilled that both clubs have raised a total figure of £8,131 so far.

She said: “I wasn’t expecting so much money. I didn’t have any sort of number in mind.

"Everyone was very generous, including friends and family.

“People were really getting behind the event.”

To find out more about Gracie Barra Maldon, visit gbmaldon.com.