Southend United mascot Sammy the Shrimp has retained his title as the highest fundraising mascot at a charity race event. The popular crustacean character raised £4,120.25, including Gift Aid, for The Children's Trust.
Sammy finished last in the actual race, which was part of preparations for the London Marathon next April. He and his "buddy Braintree Boar" stopped halfway through the course to perform a dance for the crowd. The fundraising success continues a strong charitable run for the mascot, who has helped raise more than £10,000 for various charities since January 2025.
The total raised by Sammy the Shrimp was £4,120.25. This sum includes Gift Aid contributions, which boost the value of donations made by UK taxpayers. The money is designated for The Children's Trust, a national charity supporting children with brain injury and neurodisability.
This achievement marks the second consecutive year Sammy has been the top fundraiser at this specific mascot event. "To have won back to back highest fundraising mascot is a huge honour," Sammy said. "I'm now going for it again to make it three."
While the mascot excels off the pitch, the first team is making solid progress on it. Southend United currently sit 7th in the National League table with 10 points from their opening five matches. Their record stands at three wins, one draw, and one loss. The team has scored 9 goals and conceded 6, giving them a positive goal difference of +3. They are just three points behind early leaders Boreham Wood in the title race. Fans can track the latest league positions on our standings page.
The club's recent form reads DLWWW, showing an upturn in results after an opening day draw and a subsequent loss. This positive start provides a hopeful backdrop to the community efforts led by figures like Sammy.
Sammy the Shrimp praised the event's organiser, Haydon the Womble, and the wider mascot community for their support. He also highlighted the fun aspect of the day, despite his finishing position in the race. "And although I finished last, me and buddy Braintree Boar stopped halfway through the race to have a dance to entertain the crowds," he explained.
The event served as a warm-up for participants ahead of the London Marathon, which is scheduled for April next year. Such community and charity engagements are a staple of the football club's presence in the region, complementing the on-field action.
Supporters looking for more details on the team's performances can visit our stats section for in-depth data. The full squad list is also available, showing the players working to maintain the club's promising league position.
The next challenge for Kevin Maher's side is to continue their good form and close the gap at the top of the table. Their next fixture is a home match against Aldershot Town on Saturday 5th September 2026.
