Fulham players donate day’s wages to children’s hospice charity
Fulham’s first-team squad have donated a day’s wages to the children’s hospice charity Shooting Star CHASE ahead of the Premier League game against Reading, which has been designated the club’s official charity match.
The Shooting Star CHASE logo will also appear on the front of the players’ shirts, alongside that of club sponsors FxPro, enabling it to reach a worldwide television audience.
Shooting Star CHASE provides expert care at two children’s hospices, including Shooting Star House in Hampton.
The charity supports more than 600 families from across west London, Surrey and West Sussex who have a child or teenager not expected to reach their 19th birthday.
The Fulham Football Club Foundation has been working closely with the charity on different fundraising ideas throughout the year, some of which will take place at the Reading match.
Supporters can text in donations on the day, while £1 from the sale of every pie will also go to the charity.
In the run up to the match, some of the Fulham squad were interviewed by eight-year-old Macauley Rogers, who is supported by Shooting Star CHASE and is a huge Fulham fan.
Macauley, who led the team out for the FA Cup game against Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season, was invited to the Motspur Park training ground to meet and interview Damien Duff, Aaron Hughes, Brede Hangeland, Mark Schwarzer and manager Martin Jol.
His grilling of Jol and the players is on the charity’s website at shootingstarchase.org.uk/fulhamfc.
Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed, whose own foundation also supports Shooting Stare CHASE, said: “Shooting Star CHASE is close to my heart and one of a number of children’s hospices I have supported for many years.”
David Burland, chief executive of Shooting Star CHASE, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Fulham FC, FxPro and all the fans not only at this match, but during the season.
“Thanks to their combined efforts we are able to raise vital funds and also create much needed awareness for Shooting Star CHASE and the work we do to support local families with a child or teenager with a life-limiting condition.
“Everyone at Shooting Star CHASE is looking forward to cheering on the team on the day and I know Macauley will be ready to step in should he be needed for the post-match interviews!”
Steven Day, chief executive of Fulham Football Club Foundation added: “Using our Barclays Premier League fixture against Reading gives us a great platform from which we can not only raise the profile of our partnership with Shooting Star CHASE, but also raise awareness about both of our charities.”
A £5 donation can be made to Shooting Star CHASE by texting FFCF05 £5 to 70070.
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