6 Aug 2009
ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB SMASHES FUNDRAISING TARGET FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST
Over £530,000 raised for TCT, helping to increase support for young people with cancer.
Teenage Cancer Trust is delighted to announce that Arsenal Football Club has raised a record-breaking £532,816 for the charity during the 2008/09 season. Thanks to the overwhelming support from fans, players, directors and staff, the Club smashed its £300,000 target for its chosen Charity of the Season.
The money raised through the ‘Be a Gooner. Be a Giver.’ campaign will enable Teenage Cancer Trust to create a unique unit for day patients within a brand new day care cancer centre being built at University College Hospital, London.
Arsenal’s legacy within the unit, designed specifically for young people with cancer, will be a state-of-the-art Education Zone plus a social space designed to make young patients feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible when receiving their treatment. Building work on the Centre will begin in 2010.
The money raised smashes all previous fundraising totals for Arsenal’s Charity of the Season initiative, which has been running for six consecutive years. The figure is testament to the many innovative fundraising activities which took place throughout the 12 month partnership, including the charity’s dedicated matchday – Arsenal v Liverpool – in December 2008. All first team players and directors donated a day’s wages to Teenage Cancer Trust and supporters were encouraged to do the same. £210,000 was raised in just one day.
Speaking about the partnership, Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted to smash our target of raising £300,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust as well as building awareness and understanding of the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer. The dedication of everyone involved with the charity has been phenomenal and all should be proud of the amazing delivery of fundraising initiatives Teenage Cancer Trust have introduced to our supporters over the course of the partnership. The fans have been fantastic with their generosity yet again for our Charity of the Season, and it is thanks to them that teenage cancer patients will have this fantastic Education Zone and Social Space within the revolutionary Unit once built.”
Roger Daltrey, CBE, Arsenal fan and Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust said: “As an Arsenal fan I am proud of how the Club and its fans from across the world got behind Teenage Cancer Trust last season. This incredible fundraising total is testament to the dedication and generosity of the Arsenal community. Their support will enable Teenage Cancer Trust to make a huge difference to many young people with cancer through our new, much needed day care cancer unit which will be built in London.”
Other partnership highlights included: ‘Be a Gunner. Be a Runner’, a ten lap fun-run around Emirates Stadium; a raffle to win a unique Citroën C4 designed by world famous cartoonist Gerald Scarfe in consultation with players; the Legends & Youth Ball at Emirates Stadium hosted by Little Britain star Matt Lucas and attended by the first team, Arsène Wenger and a raft of celebrity supporters. Guests were treated to performances by The Who & V V Brown and over £160,000 was raised on the evening for Teenage Cancer Trust.
With the new season beginning on 15 August 2009, Teenage Cancer Trust will be handing the Charity of the Season baton to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals.