Six Graduates have successfully pulled off not one, but two fundraising events in the space of just one day to raise over £4000 for BT’s favoured charity ‘Childline’.
Cale Judah, James Samways, Gavin Sefton, Becky Gammage, Phil Bernard and Lydia Parry joined forces back in October 2007 with the aim to make a real difference. Ambitiously, the team decided to organise both a Five-a-side football Tournament and an evening Party with Charity Auction.
After four months of planning, organising and hard selling, Saturday 8th March finally arrived.
The Football Tournament, supported by the Civil Service Insurance Society, held in Chiswick, was deemed a complete success, and will now be repeated annually.
Inspired by the graduates’ heart for their cause, the participating teams contributed over £750 in sponsorship alone.
The competition, which lasted from 9.00 until 15.00, ended in an exhilarating battle between “Blood, Sweat & Cred Refs” and “FC Mobile Guard”. The best team won with
“Blood, Sweat & Cred Refs” taking the trophy and prestigious winners medals.
For the organisers, it was a quick turnaround before arriving at FireFly Bar in Old Bailey for the party of all parties!
With Bellinis on arrival, a bottomless chocolate fountain and canapés, the event proved to be a high class triumph.
Before presenting trophies from the Football Tournament, Beth Cordingly, (The Bill/ Casualty), was kind enough to remind everyone why they were there, making a moving speech that no doubt helped prompt some extremely generous bids in the following Charity Auction. Items such as a signed photo of Pele and a weekend away in a rural Welsh cottage created a buzz that even David Dickinson would have been proud of!
“We couldn’t have hoped for a better result on the day,” James Samways reflects, “our hard work was well worth it in the end, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped make it a success”.
Every day around 4,500 children call Childline, but lack of funds means that only 2,500 of them will get through to counsellors for comfort, advice and protection.
The money raised will help more children get the support they so desperately need and deserve.
