Edgbaston to use England/Australia game to boost Cure Leukaemia
EDGBASTON Stadium is to use its forthcoming one-day international between England and Australia to try and raise a further £25,000 for Birmingham-based blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia.
The Edgbaston authorities have deemed that game on Wednesday September 11 will be the venue’s annual major fundraising day.
Edgbaston will be donating £1.50 for every adult ticket sold for the game to the charity and will also rename its new West Stand as the Cure Leukaemia Stand, with the charity’s logo set to be shown around the world to millions of viewers on TV.
Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director of Edgbaston, said: “Cure Leukaemia is our lead charity partner because every pound that is raised will go directly into saving the lives of leukaemia patients across the West Midlands.
“This will be the third international match where we’ve donated part of our ticket revenues directly to Cure Leukaemia. We’re set to continue this partnership for at least three more years, with the other days dedicated to the charity including an ODI against India next year, an Ashes Test Match in 2015 and a Test Match against Pakistan in 2016.”
Cure Leukaemia’s relationship with Edgbaston has been in place since 2005, when former Warwickshire Director of Cricket and current England ODI & t20 Head Coach Ashley Giles named it as the charity for his Benefit Year. The partnership has gone from strength-to-strength with Dougie Brown, Warwickshire’s current Director of Cricket, a Patron of the Charity, whilst Captain Jim Troughton has nominated Cure Leukaemia as one of his chosen charities for his 2013 Benefit Year.
The charity gives new hope to leukaemia patients based across the Midlands by employing specialist nurses to deliver pioneering, potentially lifesaving drugs that are not readily available through the NHS.
Ian Allen, Chairman of Cure Leukaemia, said: “This year’s Cure Leukaemia Day at Edgbaston is set to fund at least one additional research nurse, who will potentially save several lives by delivering the new pioneering treatments that we have available.
“International matches at Edgbaston are always great occasions and we’re looking forward to being part of one of the biggest sporting events in Birmingham this year.”
