Blues give their backing to The British Polio Fellowship 

BIRMINGHAM City FC are honouring the memory of one of their greats this Easter by inviting The British Polio Fellowship to join them for the match against Blackburn Rovers on Monday 21st April.

The occasion will be used to remember legendary player Jeff Hall on the 55th anniversary of his death from polio and raise money for the charity’s on-going fight against polio and post-polio syndrome (PPS).
 
Hall was a hugely popular figure at the club during the 1950s, helping Blues to reach an FA Cup Final in 1956 and winning 17 caps for England.

His death from polio in 1964 helped change the way that polio vaccination was viewed in the UK and undoubtedly saved lives.
 
The British Polio Fellowship CEO Ted Hill, MBE, said: “Jeff Hall’s death was a tragedy. Yet that event put us on the road to the entire nation being vaccinated against polio, so Jeff did not die in vain.

“We should remember him for his courage, his football and the lives saved by his story.”
 
Ted Hill has written a tribute to Jeff’s life and legacy, which will be printed in the match day programme, while the Fellowship’s van will be outside the ground and an army of volunteers will be inside, issuing information and accepting donations.

Blues’ head of communications Andy Walker said: “Birmingham City is proud to be using the match against Blackburn to honour one of our own and inviting along The British Polio Fellowship, a charity dedicated to helping those who survived Polio is a fitting way to mark Jeff Hall’s death in a positive way.

“I’m sure Jeff’s family, friends and fans alike will approve of celebrating Jeff’s remarkable life in a way that is still helping others to go on living theirs today.”
 

Property agents raise £3,000 for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice

THE West Midlands Industrial Agents Society (IAS) has raised £3,000 for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.
 
The funds were raised through a calendar of events organised by the IAS, including its annual Christmas party, a charity cricket match, a technical visit to Jaguar Land Rover and a summer BBQ.

Jonathan Robinson, West Midlands chairman at the IAS and associate director of property consultancy DTZ, saidd: “We are delighted to be able to make this donation and support the fantastic work that is carried out by St Mary’s Hospice.”

St Mary’s Hospice cares for people across Birmingham and Sandwell and the majority of its work is carried out within the homes of its patients. It also has a state-of-the-art centre in Selly Park.
 

Businesswomen take on Three Peaks Challenge for Birmingham Children’s Hospital

TWO female co-workers plus five other women from companies across Birmingham are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to raise more than £3,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Natalie Beasley and Jennifer Pearce from ES Group, along with Anne-Louise Lawrence, Sarah Rimell, Louise Fox, Elizabeth Dunbar and Laura Longman from Eversheds, BDO, Duff and Phelps and DWF will be putting on their hiking boots for the two day, 25 mile challenge in May.

The group hope to raise more than £3,000 when they complete their hike on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May. The money will be passed on to Birmingham Children’s Hospital as a contribution towards its £4m Children’s Cancer Centre Appeal.

Natalie Beasley said:  “We are all delighted to be taking part in this very worthy cause. Birmingham Children’s Hospital is a charity that is dear to everyone.”

Wright Hassall raises thousands for Will Aid charity

SOLICITORS at Leamington-based law firm Wright Hassall have demonstrated that where there is a will there is a way to raise £3,395 for the Will Aid charity.

Staff in Wright Hassall’s wills & tax planning team raised the cash by signing up to the Will Aid scheme.

Through the initiative, Wright Hassall solicitors agreed to waive their fee for writing a basic will with their clients in turn invited to make a donation to the Will Aid charity. 

The money raised from the Will Aid scheme is distributed among nine leading UK charities including Age UK, British Red Cross, NSPCC and Save the Children.

John Rouse, head of the wills and tax planning team at Wright Hassall, said: “We are delighted to support  Will Aid and to raise such a substantial amount of money for a worthwhile cause.

“It’s a great scheme for everyone; families to put their wills in place with the help and advice of experienced solicitors and at the same time we can raise money for some of the UK’s leading charities.”