Sheffield folk go the extra mile to help others

At Hillsborough Leisure Centre, celebrated former football referee Uriah Rennie is set to host his second walking football challenge next month.

Due to be held on June 10, all the money raised during the 15-hour all night sporting marathon will be donated to St Luke’s Hospice and Weston Park Cancer charity.

“The idea is quite simply that people can come along and take part for just 10 minutes if they want,” said the former FIFA referee.

He added: “I’ll be there the full 15 hours and if you feel up to the challenge then please do join me – but even if you have only a short time to spare you’ll be more than welcome to join the fun and raise vital funds for St Luke’s and Weston Park.”

Walking football is a non-contact sport and anyone who sprints, runs or jogs while the ball is in play is penalised with a free-kick awarded to the other team.

It is a slower-paced version of the beautiful game, which is primarily aimed at the over 55s,

However, Uriah’s overnight challenge – which begins at 9pm on Friday and runs through to noon on Saturday – is open to competitors of all ages and abilities, both children and adults.

Meanwhile, staff from Sheffield-based blade manufacturer, Swann Morton, are set to host a charity tea party - also in support of the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.

A group of employees from the company are set to put their culinary skills to the test and baking buns and cakes galore to raise funds for the charity as part of their annual Time for Tea campaign.

Now into its 3rd year, Time for Tea is an initiative which encourages people to host or attend a tea party during the month of May to raise vital funds for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.

Julie Larkin, payroll manager at Swann Morton, said, “It’s been fantastic to see how support for Time for Tea has grown.

“Employees at Swann Morton have really engaged with the idea of supporting the work of Weston Park Hospital and it’s a great way to bring staff together from across all departments in the business.

“This year, over 21 employees have offered their baking skills so that we can hopefully raise over £800 and help improve the lives of those fighting cancer in our region. Unfortunately, everyone is affected by cancer in some way and if we can do our bit by sitting down for a cuppa and cake then it’s an easy way to make a difference to services provided by Weston Park Hospital.”

In the last two years, Time for Tea has raised £60,000 to support life-saving projects within the specialist hospital.

Weston Park Hospital Cancer charity fundraising manager, Sarah Cross said, “Swann Morton have raised an incredible amount at their previous Time for Tea parties and we are delighted to have their continued support.”

“Money raised through Time for Tea will enable the cancer charity to invest in vital projects to improve research, treatment and care for those receiving treatment at Weston Park Hospital.”

Charity workers from Rotherham-based, PHASE Worldwide, are now set to help communities affected by an earthquake which devastated Nepal a year ago - thanks to a new funding injection.

The earthquake, and subsequent aftershock left around 8,700 people dead, 22,000 injured and hundreds of thousands homeless.

As a result of £528,075 worth of funding from The Big Lottery Fund, PHASE Worldwide will improve education and health activities for women and girls in the isolated and inaccessible Gorkha district. Its project will provide intensive support through agricultural training and nutrition awareness-raising. Activities may include raising chickens and goats, cash-crop farming or fruit tree cultivation.

Among those already helped by PHASE is Purna, a 60-year-old widow, who lives in Sirdibas where 90 per cent of buildings were destroyed.

She said: “My eldest son was in Thulo Dunga when the earthquake hit. There was a huge landslide there, part of the rocky hillside broke off and took the whole path down. My son was buried by descending rocks and died instantly.”

And earlier this month, five-year-old Sophia Gilchrist-Thomas, kept her promise when her hair was carefully plaited before having it cut by hairdresser Danielle Maeer. The Retford youngster’s hair has been carefully packaged and dispatched to the ‘Little Princess Trust’ who make real hair wigs for children, and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in North Anston is in line to receive over £1,000 raised in support of Sophia’s sponsored stunt.

ALSO IN THE REGION:

- Barnsley Trials Club raised £800 for Paces Sheffield during the annual Ben Carlile charity day on April 3. 
As part of the charity day, the trials club held a charity auction and donations were boosted as the venue was offered free of charge by landowners.
- Employees at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have reached a significant fundraising milestone this week, banking an incredible £5 million for hospice care. Sheffield’s St Luke’s Hospice has received more than £58,000 over the past eight years as a result of the fundraising. Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks’ employees have raised £2.5million with the banks matching their efforts pound for pound