Blades hand £7k to hospital appeal
Sheffield United have given a £7,000 boost to a campaign aiming to transform a children's hospital in Sheffield.
More than 1,400 children witnessed the Blades' league encounters with Colchester United, Peterborough United and Crewe Alexandra after the club donated match tickets to The Children's Hospital Charity as part of a pledge to raise £25,000 for a private bedroom in the new hospital wing.
The charity then sold the tickets directly to clubs from the Sheffield and District Junior Sunday League at a special price of £6, with £2.50 from each sale going towards the Make It Better appeal, £2.50 going to any junior club which sold tickets, and the remaining £1 going towards the league's development fund.
Dave McCarthy, operations director at Sheffield United, said: "We are always proud to support local charities and we're delighted to have raised over £7,000 for The Children's Hospital Charity's Make It Better appeal so far. However, our fundraising doesn't stop here as the club is working towards its fundraising total of £25,000.
"It's also fantastic to see that the club's donation of tickets will also directly put money back into grassroots football in the city. It was great to see so many children from the junior leagues enjoying a game at Bramall Lane and we hope to see them here again soon."
The charity's Make It Better appeal aims to upgrade The Children's Hospital in Sheffield by spring 2016. The project will include a new wing, complete with private rooms, parent beds, an outpatient department, a courtyard and a giant play tower.
Tchad Western, corporate fundraiser at The Children's Hospital Charity, said: "We're extremely grateful to Sheffield United for their pledge to donate £25,000 in total and it's great to see that their latest donation of tickets benefited both the charity and the Sheffield and District Junior Sunday League.
"We thank the Blades for their continued generosity and commitment."