Kem with Mellysa and Oliver at Global’s London headquarters.

Kem Cetinay began his marathon 24-hour padel challenge at 9am on Thursday, 9 October, raising funds for Global’s Make Some Noise charity

Swapping gloves for rackets in aid of Global’s Make Some Noise

After spending the last two years playing padel, The Capital Weekender host Kem Cetinay turned his hobby into a 24-hour challenge to raise vital funds in aid of Global’s Make Some Noise. Boxing Futures joined Kem for half an hour, swapping boxing gloves for rackets – and described it as ‘crazy, fast and fun’.

The event, which kicked off at 9am on 9 October, saw Kem push himself to his physical and mental limit with an exhausting 24 hours of padel at Canary Wharf’s Padium in London. Padel is a fast-paced racket sport played in doubles, blending elements of tennis, squash, and badminton. Over 24 hours, Kem ran approximately 120-140km – the equivalent of three marathons – only he did it running sideways and backwards!

Kem Cetinay began his marathon 24-hour padel challenge at 9am on Thursday, 9 October, raising funds for Global’s Make Some Noise charity

Raising funds for charity

The event raised an astonishing £306,410 for Capital’s official charity, Make Some Noise. Make Some Noise funds vital projects, delivered by small charities right across the UK, which help to tackle issues such as mental health, poverty and homelessness.

Make Some Noise is supporting one of Boxing Futures programmes, Chatterbox for two years. READ: About ChatterBox

Chatterbox is a 24-week programme of non-contact boxing and therapeutic talk for young people aged 16 to 25 years. Two Chatterbox participants, Oliver Quigley and Mellysa Mulungi, took part in the padel challenge, along with Operations Manager Jamie Weston.

“This has been a fantastic event to be part of! Global’s Make Some Noise offers wonderful support to our charity, and continues to help us to provide unforgettable experiences and opportunity to the young people we work with. We are honoured to be part of this challenge and appreciate the great work that will now be possible thanks to the generosity of Global’s Make Some Noise.”

Jamie Weston, Boxing Futures

Celebrity support

Other celebrities and Capital listeners took turns with Kem on court, including actors Adam and Ryan Thomas, DJ and radio presenter Jordan North, media personality Chris Stark, and TV presenter/radio host Siân Welby.

Speaking on the music station after the event, Kem said he initially thought the 24-hour challenge was going to be ‘so easy’.

“But it was a lot harder than I thought,” he said, adding: “It got really deep and dark in the night. But I am so glad we done it.”

Kem Cetinay - Capital's 24-hour Padel Challenge

Suzanne Ryder-Richardson, Director of Global Goodness, added:

“We are incredibly grateful to Kem for taking on this huge challenge to raise money for Global’s Make Some Noise. Every pound donated to Kem Cetinay’s 24-hour padel challenge can help provide a lifeline to those who need it most, right in the heart of communities across the UK. Right now, millions of people are facing some of life’s toughest challenges, from mental health struggles, poverty, homelessness or simply feeling alone. Donations have never been more important.”

Suzanne Ryder-Richardson, Director of Global Goodness