Two Essex organisations have benefited from FA Community Fund money this week thanks to Chelmsford City’s run in the FA Cup last season.
The Clarets, who currently have a commanding 15 point lead at the top of the Ryman Premier League, reached Round One of the competition last season and nominated both Farleigh Hospice and Broomfield Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for their £5,000 share of the FA Community Fund.
Last season’s FA Cup saw 124 clubs make the First Round proper with their money for good causes funded by the profits from this season’s Community Shield season curtain raiser between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Chelmsford City divided the cash down the middle for both their nominated organisations and the club’s operations director, Mansell Wallace, commented: “Our club takes great pride in the efforts it undertakes to support local charities and we also organised a special meal to raise additional funds for such worthy causes.”
Farleigh Hospice, carers for people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, supply support for individuals with physical symptoms who may also have social, emotional and spiritual needs.
Corporate Fundraiser, Debbie de Boltz, was delighted with the cash boost: “Farleigh Hospice is extremely grateful to Chelmsford City Football Club for this wonderful donation, made possible by the generosity of the FA.
“We are very dependent on the local community in order to help our patients and their families and donations of this magnitude enable us to provide the specialist care and support they need.
“It is a real example of community spirit and I would like to thank you all on behalf of our patients and their families.”
Dr Kevin Kiff, Consultant Anaesthetist from Broomfield Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, added: “Matron Gill Abrahall and I are extremely grateful to everyone from Chelmsford City Football Club and the Football Association for their tremendous support of our local community.
“We are delighted to accept this donation of £2,500 on behalf of our Unit which treats more than seven hundred patients from all over Essex.
“Our aim is to raise £100,000 for special medical equipment and to develop technology to compliment the specialist care provided by our skilled intensive care doctors and nurses so this generous donation will go a long way to helping us reach our target and give our fundraising appeal an enormous boost.”
Chris Evans, Press & Publicity Officer for the Essex County Football Association, was also present at the ceremony and added: “It’s pleasing to see how football has a positive effect on so many outside of the National Game as well as on the field of play. We were honoured to oversee the presentation on behalf of The Football Association, whose commitment to causes in the local and national community is unwavering.”
