There had also been an issue in Ipswich when a problem with the gears on their camper van meant they had to keep stopping. Fortunately, their transport sponsor had a spare van nearby and they were back on track after a “Formula 1-style” switch.
The Caplins were particularly excited to visit the Brisbane Road home of their team, Leyton Orient, whose community liaison officer Howard Gould had coached Josh Caplin when he played at the Maccabiah Games.
A pitch-side photo was arranged and some signed merchandise donated to auction for additional funds. They were also given pitch access at Hull City.
There are currently only 91 league clubs because of the exclusion of Bury over financial problems. But Josh Caplin explained that Bury was included in the itinerary in recognition that Leyton Orient “had their own financial trouble four or five years ago. It was good to show some solidarity with other teams having troubled times.”
Although his mother was not a football fan, Mr Caplin said the family had wanted a challenge that was “a bit different”. It was also something of a footballing reunion, recalling his travels with his father to Leyton Orient games across the country before making aliyah three years ago.
Some of the money will go towards Chai’s image resource service, which provides cosmetic help to cancer patients. While battling cancer, the service helped Mrs Caplin look “smart and well put together”, something which was “important to her”.
The donation to North London Hospice was to help ensure patients like his mum were “not suffering too much” at the end of their lives.
The Caplins' donation page can be found here.
