Richard Thompson, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has proposed the creation of an annual charity event centered around cricket to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease. Thompson completed a fundraiser by walking 100 laps of Lord’s Cricket Ground, covering roughly 31 miles, and hopes to establish this effort as a recurring event.

Thompson, who lost both parents to dementia, described the walk as a symbolic challenge, equating 100 laps at Lord’s to a notable cricketing milestone. The initiative has so far raised £300,000, surpassing the initial target by £50,000. Thompson intends to encourage his international counterparts, such as the chairs of Cricket Australia and Cricket West Indies, to take part in similar events at iconic cricket venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Kensington Oval in Barbados. He envisions a global, high-profile challenge event akin to the ice bucket challenge, with the goal of growing participation and impact year-on-year.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease remain significant public health issues in the United Kingdom, responsible for more than 76,000 deaths annually, underscoring the importance of increased awareness and research funding.

In related cricket news, Leicestershire County Cricket Club has partially recovered points deducted earlier this month for fielding a substandard pitch in a match against Glamorgan. Initially penalized 27 points—eight by the Cricket Discipline Panel and an additional 19 points by the ECB—the club has succeeded in having eight points reinstated after it was revealed the panel was not informed of the ECB’s separate penalty decision. Despite this adjustment, Leicestershire finished the Championship season in the relegation zone, 17 points behind Essex. Club chief executive Emma White confirmed intentions to continue appealing the penalties.