This is 156 Kicks
Mission = Raise £21,000 To provide 3x life-saving, heart screening days across the UK.
The Challenge
In June 2026, Tommy Gentleman will attempt to complete 156 successful rugby conversions in 60 minutes as part of 156 Kicks for C.R.Y.
The challenge represents a stark reality: 156 young people die every three months in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions.
(based on C.R.Y.'s core message - 12 a week)
This is not just a world record attempt. It is a prevention-led campaign designed to raise awareness and fund life-saving cardiac screening through Cardiac Risk in the Young (C.R.Y.).
A free heart screening day costs £7000. Tommy needs your help to raise enough money to provide THREE free screening days across the UK, for families with any concerns to have peace of mind and potentially prevent a sudden unexpected death.
The event is officially registered as a Guinness World Record attempt and will set the benchmark for this world-first record once 150 successful conversions are achieved.
The event is planned to take place at a major UK rugby stadium (venue to be confirmed), with the goal of bringing together the community around one clear mission:
To help reduce the 156.
Every successful kick represents the opportunity we have, through awareness, screening and action, to change that number.
In March 2009, Tommy's younger Brother Jamie Gentleman passed away suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition just 5 days before his 14th birthday, a moment that changed his and his families' lives forever.
'Tommy G' has made it his lifes mission to live fully and make a difference, achieving whatever he can from his opportunity of life, honouring his Brother Jamie's legacy along the way.
This event marks an effort to help the good people ay C.R.Y. on their pursuit to provide more heart screenings to young people as well as the continued support for bereaved families.
156 young people die in the UK every 3 months from undiagnosed heart conditions. As somebody that has been personally affected by this, I full support the mission to reduce this number.
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Tommy Gentleman
156 Kicks
MEET TOMMY G
Tommy Gentleman is an entrepreneur, speaker and performance-driven leader based in Hampshire.
A former world champion in sport ju-jitsu, current grass roots rugby player, youth coach and facilities lead at Hampshire RFU, Tommy is passionate about sport and the opportunities that it provides for the community.
In 2024, he set a Guinness World Record for the most rugby conversions in one minute.
Now he is going for his 2nd. This time, most rugby conversions in 60 minutes and he will be raising money for C.R.Y.
In 2009, Tommy’s younger brother Jamie died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition at just 13 years old. That loss continues to shape his belief that leadership means action especially when prevention is possible.
Through 156 Kicks for C.R.Y., Tommy is combining performance, purpose and platform to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death in young people and support life-saving screening across the UK.
This is not just a challenge.
It is a commitment to help reduce the 156.
"We know from the good people at C.R.Y. that it costs £7000 to facilitate a "screening day". These provide families with the chance to have their children screened for free. If we are to stand a chance in reducing the number of young people that die from undiagnosed heart conditions, we must increase the amount of screenings and do whatever we can to make them easily accessable."
-Tommy Gentleman
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
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1
OFFICIAL EVENT PARTNER
Founding Partner –
Lead partner of the campaign, with primary brand association and visibility across all communications. Your company will be leading the way to champion the effort in reducing the 156 deaths in the UK every 3 months from diagnosed heart conditions. You will be the headline partner, and your logo will be featured on all of the online and offline material as well as other promotional benefits (to be discussed)
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2
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
Official Sponsors –
We have 3 official fundraising sponsor opportunities, supporting awareness and screening impact to make a huge difference in the prevention of sudden, undiagnosed heart related deaths. You will receive mainstream exposure on social media and all flagship material including banners.
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3
THE "300 CLUB"
Only 15 places available to companies or individuals.
Pledge £300 and become a publicly recognised supporter of 156 Kicks. You will receive one of the official signed match balls used during the challenge as well as your logo on promotional material and social media posts.
Every partnership directly supports Cardiac Risk in the Young (C.R.Y.) and helps reduce the 156.
How Can You Possibly Help?
Get involved in the project
THE CHALLENGE ITSELF
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60 MINUTES TO KICK 156 OR MORE SUCCESSFUL CONVERSIONS
Only the shots that go between the posts will count. Tommy will need to score 3x per minute to succeed.
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KICKING FROM 3 SPECIFIC SPOTS ON THE 22m LINE
Tommy will have to load his own kicking tee each time. Helpers can retrieve balls, but that's it.
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OFFICIAL GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
This is a pre-approved Guinness World Record attempt.
WHY CRY?
Cardiac Risk in the Young (C.R.Y.) is a UK charity dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death in young people aged 35 and under.
Every week in the UK, at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions. Many of these deaths are preventable through early detection.
C.R.Y. works to:
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Raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death
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Provide subsidised cardiac screening for young people
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Fund research into inherited heart conditions
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Support families affected by sudden loss
Through screening, education and research, C.R.Y. is helping to reduce the number of young lives lost each year.
156 Kicks for C.R.Y. is proud to support this life-saving work.
WHY RUGBY?
I didn't grow up playing rugby. All my cousins did and my Uncle was deeply involved with our local club Andover RFC, but when my Mum took me for a taster session, I didn't last the warm up and never went back again...Until I was 26.
I had hit my ceiling as a Footballer and I had finished my 5 year stint competing at Sport Ju Jitsu where I had won a World Championship and competed for England in 3 seperate global competitions...I wanted a new challenge.
I started playing rugby after taking part in a charity touch tournament. Let's give this a go then...
I played a season and then tore my ankle ligaments. Scrap that. I doubt I will ever play rugby again.
Then age 34, I was invited to play for Andover 3s in a Christmas fixture. Oh why not? Go on then...
I loved it.
Now, almost 4 years on, I'm enjoying playing rugby, coaching rugby (under 9s!) and I am an Executive committee member at Andover RFC.
I have also just started a voluntary position at Hampshire RFU as Facilities Lead Officer.
Rugby is worth investing in because it connects people in a way that no other sport does. The values, the friendships, the reach, the different ways to enjoy the game, I love it all, and although I may not have many years left playing week in week out, I know that I will be a supporter of the game and all that it stands for for many years to come.
TG
