EMOTIONAL BOMBSHELL: Former Ipswich Town Star Tommy Hughes Breaks Silence on Life-Changing Ghana Trip — Now He’s Taking on an Exhausting 18-Hour Marathon to Help Hundreds of Children, and the Response Has Been Extraordinary… See More
FORMER IPSWICH TOWN MIDFIELDER TAKES ON EPIC 18-HOUR PADEL MARATHON TO TRANSFORM CHILDREN’S LIVES IN GHANA
A former Ipswich Town academy graduate is preparing to embark on a remarkable sporting challenge that could make a significant difference to hundreds of children in Ghana.
Tommy Hughes, who spent 14 years developing through Ipswich Town’s academy system, will join forces with his brother Charlie Hughes for an extraordinary 18-hour padel marathon later this month. The ambitious fundraising event aims to raise vital funds for Akwaaba Volunteers, a Ghana-based charity dedicated to supporting children’s education, healthcare, and sporting opportunities.
The marathon challenge is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 20, at The Warehouse in Ipswich. Beginning at an astonishing 5:00 a.m. and continuing uninterrupted until 11:00 p.m., the Hughes brothers will play padel continuously for 18 consecutive hours in an effort to generate awareness and financial support for the charity’s ongoing work.
The event has already attracted attention from members of the local sporting community, with supporters praising the brothers’ commitment to both physical endurance and humanitarian causes.
For Tommy Hughes, the challenge represents another chapter in a football journey that began at Ipswich Town when he was just seven years old. The midfielder progressed through every age group at the club’s academy and eventually earned opportunities with the senior squad, making three substitute appearances before departing Portman Road in January 2023 to join King’s Lynn Town.
Since then, Hughes has continued his football career and currently plays for Bury Town under the management of former Ipswich Town captain Cole Skuse. Despite moving on from professional football’s higher levels, Hughes has maintained a strong connection to community initiatives and charitable work.
However, it is Charlie Hughes’ personal experience in Ghana that has become the driving force behind the fundraising campaign.
Charlie has spent more than five months working on the ground in Ghana and has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by many families as well as the positive impact Akwaaba Volunteers has made in local communities. His experiences inspired the idea of organizing a major fundraising event capable of drawing attention to the charity’s mission.
Tommy himself also travelled to Ghana in May, allowing him to see the charity’s operations up close and understand the importance of its work.
Speaking about the motivation behind the challenge, Charlie highlighted the profound effect the charity has had on children’s lives since its formation.
“Having already spent over five months on the ground in Ghana, I have witnessed first-hand the life-changing impact of their work, while Tommy visited in May to see it for himself,” Charlie explained.
His comments reflect the passion both brothers now share for the project and the determination they have to help the organization continue its efforts.
According to Charlie, Akwaaba Volunteers has been making a difference since 2016 and has become a vital source of support for children and families in Accra. The organization currently helps more than 250 children every day through a range of educational, healthcare, and community development initiatives.
The charity provides assistance with school fees, helping children access education who might otherwise be unable to attend school. It also works to improve healthcare access for vulnerable families while supporting economic development projects that help parents establish small businesses and create sustainable sources of income.
Beyond education and healthcare, sport plays a central role in the charity’s mission. Akwaaba Volunteers uses sporting activities to build confidence, encourage teamwork, and teach valuable life skills that can benefit young people throughout their lives.
The organization’s philosophy centers on creating opportunities for children to thrive regardless of their circumstances. Through a combination of practical support and personal development programs, the charity seeks to empower young people and help them reach their full potential.
The upcoming padel marathon has therefore become about far more than simply completing a sporting challenge. For the Hughes brothers, every hour spent on the court represents an opportunity to raise awareness and funding for a cause they believe is changing lives.
Padel, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, combines elements of tennis and squash and requires significant endurance, agility, and concentration. Playing continuously for 18 hours will push both participants to their physical and mental limits.
Supporters are expected to visit throughout the day to cheer on the brothers as they battle fatigue and maintain their performance levels across the marathon session. The event is also expected to attract donations from football fans, local residents, businesses, and members of the wider sporting community.
Businesses interested in supporting the initiative have been encouraged to become sponsors, while individual supporters can contribute through the fundraising campaign established for the event.
Charlie emphasized that every contribution, regardless of size, can make a meaningful difference.
“Every donation will help them continue this incredible work and make a lasting difference,” he said.
As the June 20 challenge approaches, excitement continues to build around what promises to be an inspiring display of determination and generosity. For Tommy Hughes, it offers a chance to use his sporting platform to support an important cause. For Charlie, it represents an opportunity to give back to a community that has left a lasting impression on him.
Most importantly, for the hundreds of children supported by Akwaaba Volunteers, the success of the fundraising effort could help ensure that vital educational opportunities, healthcare services, and sporting programs continue to be available in the years ahead.
When the brothers step onto the padel court before sunrise on June 20, they will not simply be chasing an endurance record. They will be playing for a purpose far greater than sport itself—helping create brighter futures for children thousands of miles away.
