Anniversary leads to charity windfall

The Birmingham Children's Hospital, The Friends of St Cross Hospital, Rugby Myton Day Hospice, the Loros Hospice and The Midlands Air Ambulance Service shared in a £3,008.60 windfall generated by a series of fundraising events and matches since the start of this season to mark the EVO-STIK NPL First Division South club's birth as Rugby Town FC.

The Birmingham Children's Hospital benefited from the largest donation of £1,113.60, the proceeds of the Valley Diamond Draw raffle run by Julie Bubb whose employer, National Grid, topped up her efforts £400 of matched funding.

The fundraiser is pictured handing over the club's cheque to the hospital's Katie Fitzgerald with sons Daniel, 14, and Matthew, 11, right, who has been a patient of the hospital's Heart Unit since birth.

Officials at the Butlin Road made the other presentations at a special celebration dinner which was also attended by the Mayor of Rugby, Councillor Sally Bragg, who also left the event with a cheque for £175 for her two nominated charities.

While The Friends of St Cross Hospital, Rugby Myton Day Hospice and the The Midlands Air Ambulance Service received £500 each from the series of Valley Legends fixtures, the Loros Hospice was presented with a cheque for £110. The funds were also topped up on the night with a 'Silent Auction' and raffles at two matches of memorabilia supplied by club supporter Kevin Hoskin and his Rugby-based company Allstar Signings 4U.

A Valley spokesman said: "Thanks go to officials of the club for permitting the use of the excellent Butlin Road facilities and kit without charge, to club directors for their help at the dinner and matches, to former players Craig Herbert and Tony Clarke who, along with the programme sponsor Neil Gurney, assembled two excellent squads of former VS Rugby and Rugby Town players and to Rugby Town FC Supporters Club and several other helpers and donors of raffle prizes and monies."

Image courtesy of www.rugbytownfc.com

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