A county darts player will be proudly sporting the logo of a charity close to her heart when she steps up to the oche this weekend.
Lynsey Childs is competing in the PDC Women’s Series, in Leicester, and plans to wear a top raising awareness of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The 42-year-old says she will be inspired by thoughts of godson Luke, who receives care from EACH at The Nook.
Little Luke was only expected to live for a day – one week at best – after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 2023.
He also has an unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect and Down Syndrome, but continues to fight and is due to celebrate his second birthday in March.
Lynsey, who is friends with Luke’s parents, Sarah and Luke, describes him as a ‘little warrior’ and wants to use darts as a way of spreading the word about EACH’s work.
“Before Luke came along, the word hospice made me think of just one thing – end of life,” she said.
“Now I realise it’s a place that offers so much more, and I hear it firsthand from Luke’s parents.
“They’re always so positive and enthusiastic about everything they experience at The Nook.
“It’s somewhere they can go, as a family, and feel safe, relaxed and supported, and that means so much to them.
“Hearing their thoughts has totally changed the way I feel, and this is my way of giving something back.”
Lynsey has more PDC Women’s Series dates in the diary. She plans to play in Leicester again, as well as two weekends in Milton Keynes and a trip to Wigan.
She tries to see as much as she can of Sarah, Luke and godson Luke.
“He’s such a character and a little warrior,” she said.
“We’re all very proud of him, and that’s why I want to do whatever I can to try and raise awareness of EACH.
“I’m also trying to raise funds by running football cards, where people pay to pick their favourite team from a square of 80. We then scratch another square to reveal the winner, who gets a prize – and then we donate £100 to EACH.
“In addition, we’re organising a family fundraising night on 12th April, where we’ll have a disco, karaoke and raffle at The Diplomat pub, in Badersfield.”
Lynsey, who lives in Coltishall, started playing darts when she was a teenager, initially stepping up to play for her dad’s team when they were short on numbers.
She represented the Norfolk youth team when she was 17 and has since played for her county in more than 50 matches, stretching back to her debut in 2002.
Lynsey was crowned Norfolk Super League Ladies’ Singles champion in 2024, as well as being named ‘most improved player’.
In addition to her county commitments, she also represents Wymondham in the Norfolk Super League, as well as playing in the Market Cross Invitation League and Norwich League.
Lynsey is pictured wearing her county top, featuring the EACH logo, during a recent match for Norfolk against Bedfordshire. She plans to keep wearing it in future county matches.
