Staff, students, friends and family at Bridgwater College came together to celebrate and remember Luke Buckingham, the College’s much-loved former Sports Development Manager, marking ten years since his passing.

Luke played a pivotal role in developing competitive sport at the College and was known for his positivity, energy, and his belief that “better never stops”. To honour his legacy, the Sports Development Team organised a day of fundraising, sport and community spirit, with a particular focus on supporting Anthony Nolan, a charity that held deep personal significance to Luke and his family.

Luke benefitted from a stem cell transplant during his illness, which gave him an additional three years with his loved ones. The support he received from Anthony Nolan inspired the College to make the charity a central part of this memorial event, ensuring his story continues to raise awareness and encourage others to register as potential stem cell donors.

Representatives from Anthony Nolan’s Hero Project, the charity’s education programme that teaches 16–18-year-olds about the importance of stem cell, blood, and organ donation, joined Luke’s father, Bob Buckingham, in engaging with more than 350 students. Together, they delivered powerful talks about how young people can save lives through donation and inspired many students to sign up to the stem cell register on the day.

The two day event began with a powerful 10-hour spin challenge, symbolising Luke’s drive and determination. Staff and students took turns throughout the day, raising funds through donations and raffle entries to support Anthony Nolan’s lifesaving work, while also encouraging their peers to join the stem cell register.

The celebrations continued with a series of football fixtures on the College’s 3G pitch, concluding with a special UCS College Group Staff vs. Luke Buckingham XI match. The event brought together friends, family, colleagues and alumni, many of whom had worked with or been coached by Luke, in a day that perfectly reflected his passion for teamwork, sport, and community. Ben Kirk, led the Luke Buckingham XI to a 2-0 victory in honour of his best friend.

By the end of the event, 154 students had signed up to become potential donors, participants had covered an incredible distance of 2192.65km over the 10 hours and over £1,500 was raised for Anthony Nolan.

Jason Gunningham, Principal at Bridgwater College, said,

Luke made an incredible impact on everyone he worked with. This event was about celebrating his legacy in a way that truly reflected who he was, passionate, selfless, and deeply committed to helping others reach their potential. I’m incredibly proud that the College has able to support Anthony Nolan in his memory, and grateful for the way our college community has come together to honour Luke through such a meaningful cause.

Luke’s wife, Holly Buckingham, added,

Luke always believed in the power of sport to bring people together. He was driven to succeed, to never stop trying and to always inspire those around him, which is why the better never stops message is now embedded into everything the sports teams at the College do. This event is such a fitting tribute to who he was and the values he lived by.

The College community expressed pride in continuing Luke’s legacy by combining sport, teamwork, and lifesaving awareness, a powerful reminder of how one person’s story can inspire hundreds more to take action.

Andrew Crowl, Youth Engagement Senior Manager at Anthony Nolan, said,

We are delighted that students at Bridgwater College have been inspired to encourage people to sign up as donors. We particularly need young men to join the register, as they are most likely to be chosen to donate to a patient in need of a lifesaving stem cell transplant.

If you would like to know more about the sport provision at Bridgwater College, please visit www.btc.ac.uk. To find out more about The Hero Trust and the incredible work it does in Luke’s memory, please visit www.theherotrust.co.uk.