Former England internationals urge fellow cricketers to join them in North Africa for Cricketers’ Trust.
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With less than two months to go, former England players Fran Wilson and Stuart Meaker are stepping up preparations to scale Mount Toubkal and raise crucial funds for the Cricketers’ Trust.
The post-season fundraising challenge aims to raise £30,000 to support the life-long health and wellbeing of past and present professional cricketers and their immediate families in England and Wales.
Both Wilson and Meaker are motivated by the Trusts’ active interest in supporting PCA members with medical funding, crisis support and a 24/7 Confidential Helpline to make sure anybody facing significant issues receive assistance, whether they remain in the game or not.
Meaker has previously supported the Trust on fundraisers, cycling in the 2015 Big Bike Ride which went from Truro to the Kia Oval and completed the Three Peak Challenge in 2019 where participants climbed three mountain peaks across the UK.
Wilson, on the other hand, is eager to participate in her first Trust fundraising campaign. Capped 64 times by England, the 33-year-old understands the importance of taking part in such activities knowing the money raised could directly help her or her colleagues in the future.
The Toubkal Trek is a four-day long adventure from 21 to 24 October 2025 with the ambitious hike taking place on 22 and 23 October.
- Why did you decide to sign up for the Toubkal Trek?
- Stuart Meaker) I have done a couple of fundraising events in the past like the Bike Ride. The PCA has always been very helpful to me over the years, and this is all in the name of the Cricketers’ Trust. Signing up for the Trek is my chance to give back to all the help that they have provided me.
- Fran Wilson) Firstly, I like a challenge, and this Trek stood out to me as something I have never done before. But also, I do a lot of coaching work through Gloucestershire cricket and seeing Syd Lawrence pass away this summer, I wanted to contribute and give something back to the game. I have got friends and know of other fellow cricketers who have received help from the Trust so as a player I have a responsibility to help others in any way I can.
- Why is it important for cricketers to support the Trust?
- SM) You never know what your circumstances might be when you end up leaving the game. Obviously, there is a lot more money in cricket now for players which is a lot better for when they are transitioning out of the game, but things could change. The Trust, however, is always there and willing to help in all possible ways so it is good way to ensure that the help is there for those who need it regardless how they end up finishing their careers.
- FW) We all love is that cricket is a big community. We have to look after and support each other whether you know the person or not which is something that is very close to my heart.
- What is the one piece of advice for members who might be considering signing up for the Toubkal Trek?
- SM) Get hiking! The game is not always going to be around for you forever. Any help that the players can provide towards the Trust really gets put to good use. It’s a show of support for everything that they do behind the scenes, it a show of support for all of your teammates and fellow competitors as us cricketers are like a small family. Signing up for the Trek is a show of goodwill for everything that the Trust does for us.
- FW) Firstly, you should just sign up! It is a great opportunity. People might be stumped by ‘fundraising’ but there are loads of way to raise the money. That’s one of the things which I found very easy. There are many fun ways to raise the crucial money that’s needed for the betterment of all of us involved in the sport.
- What are your training regimes and preparation ideas ahead of the Trek in October?
- SM) I will get back down to the gym and do some weight training and also get some strength back in the legs. I cannot do too much of altitude training around the London way, but I will be doing some hikes here and there as well to be prepared for Toubkal.
- FW) Most of my training at the moment is through cricket. We obviously keep ourselves pretty fit. But as the season comes to a close, I am definitely going to start looking at doing a bit more specific training. I do plan on going on a few hikes, but I generally stay fit anyway.
- Do you have any prior experience of going hiking? Do you consider yourself as a person who loves the outdoors?
- SM) I have always been quite an outdoorsy person. I like going out for camping and do a bit of hiking there. I wouldn’t say I have done a hike as big as this. I did the Three Peak Challenge which was quite tough even though we did it over three days, so this is definitely going to more of a test for anything what I have done before but that’s the fun of it!
- What are you personally looking forward to learning from the Toubkal Trek?
- FW) I love travelling and seeing different countries and cultures so that was a big pull for me to join the Trek. Being able to visit somewhere I have never been like Morocco will be an amazing experience. Also, supporting the Trust is also really valuable and as players we have the responsibility to do so in any means possible. I also want to get to know some new people. I literally do not know anyone that is on the Trek. I want to meet people I haven’t met before and getting to know their stories and their motivations behind doing this.
Learn more about the Toubkal Trek here and to register your interest by contacting Bee Ford at bee.ford@thepca.co.uk for this once in a lifetime trek whilst raising funds for those PCA members who need it most.
