PROFESSIONAL CRICKETERS' TRUST PRESS RELEASE
Fundraiser seeks donations in memory of late husband Richard Davis.
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Sammy Relf has appealed to all former teammates of her late husband Richard ‘Dickie’ Davis, who appeared for no less than five first-class counties during a 15-year professional career, to donate to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust as part of the #charity10for10 campaign.
Relf, who now works for the PCA to raise funds for the Trust, announced the target as she completed a 10km cycle and subsequently donated £10 to the cause on Wednesday morning.
She has been handed a boost by ex-England international Matthew Fleming, who has pledged to match any donations made in former teammate and friend Davis’ memory up to a total of £500.
Davis, who spent most of his playing career at Kent but also appeared for Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Leicestershire and minor county Berkshire, was diagnosed with a brain tumour within weeks of his final professional appearance in late 2001.
He and then-wife Sammy received support from the Trust during the following years, before Davis tragically passed away in December 2003 at the age of just 37.
With her new target, Relf is hoping to give back to the charity that lent its support to her and Davis when they needed it most.
“When Richard was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001, one of the first calls I received was from Trust President David Graveney, and he just asked me if there was anything at all that we needed,” Relf recalls.
"My personal experiences have made me feel very passionate about this cause, so I hope we can get a lot of people behind this and raise some good money.”
SAMMY RELF
“We received significant financial support from the charity, which was absolutely invaluable to us during what was a very difficult time. It has inspired me to do something more to help other people in the same way that I was helped – I work for the Trust so I see directly the great work that the charity does for so many people.
“I am appealing to all of those who played with Richard at any of his five counties to donate in his memory – you don’t have to necessarily complete the challenge, just donate.
“I would also personally like to thank Matthew Fleming for his very generous pledge which I’m sure will make a significant contribution to the fundraising effort.
“My personal experiences have made me feel very passionate about this cause, so I hope we can get a lot of people behind this and raise some good money.”
To have your #charity10for10 donation matched by Matthew Fleming, please comment “In memory of Richard Davis” alongside your donation on the appeal’s JustGiving page.
Trust challenge raises £7,000 and counting
In the space of just one week, the Trust has raised £7,901 and counting via the #charity10for10 challenge.
Launched on 1st June, the initiative has brought together individuals from across the cricket family to lend their support to the charity which faces an annual shortfall of £250,000 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
England captains Eoin Morgan, Joe Root and Heather Knight are amongst those who have run, cycled or swum 10km before donating at least £10 to the Trust and nominating three more to do the same.
All of the money raised will go directly towards the players’ charity, which funds life-changing assistance for PCA members and their immediate families when they need it most. Support offered by the Trust can range from emotional counselling to the provision of specialist medical equipment and beyond.
A number of Trust beneficiaries have returned their support to the charity, with Dom Bess, Marcus Trescothick and Chris Wood all having completed the #charity10for10 already. Last week, ex-Glamorgan and Sussex man Keith Newell ran and cycled the distance with daughter Jessica, who suffers from a life-limiting form of Mitochondrial Disease.
Just got back from 10km run pushing Jessica my daughter in the buggy provided by @CricketersTrust @PCA all in aid of the #charity10for10 . My challenge goes out to all current and past @SussexCCC and @GlamCricket .Run, bike or walk your 10km and donate £10 to the trust.. pic.twitter.com/wP9LzG6zaa
— Keith Newell (@KeithNewell1350) June 3, 2020
The biggest donation so far has come in from Richard Mully, who gave an incredible £1,000 (rising to £1,250 with Gift Aid) to the Trust, thanking the charity for its support of “terrific fellow and fine Sussex cricketer” Newell on the challenge’s JustGiving page. The #charity10for10 has also proved popular with current players, with 10 representatives from the PCA Players’ Committee, including Kate Cross (England Women), Rob Jones (Lancashire) and James Harris (Middlesex) having lent their support to the Trust so far.
The @CricketersTrust is launching the #charity10for10 campaign to raise funds! I nominate @mitchwccc @robpeterjones and @Gelwiss! Either 🚶🏽♀️, 🏃🏽♀️ or 🚴🏽♀️ 10k and donate £10 and nominate your friends!https://t.co/iilOSoezIN pic.twitter.com/aK8TJzWcwE — Kate Cross (@katecross16) June 1, 2020
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Get supporting the @cricketerstrust and do a 10k walk, run or bike mainly just have some fun and get it done 🙌🏼🏏😆#charity10for10 https://justgiving.com/campaign/charity10for10 Your turn lads 🌹 @keatonjetjennings @bunny_onions @stevenjcroft A post shared by Rob Jones (@robjones119) on
Big day out on the bike yesterday taking on the #10for10challenge for @CricketersTrust raising money for the cricket family! Get involved! https://t.co/3SnwVuIDu9 #wetakecareofourown pic.twitter.com/68x8aRWbht — James Harris (@James_Harris9) June 5, 2020
The challenge isn’t limited to professional cricketers past and present, with many from the media world and general public alike also getting involved.
Got on the bike for my @PCA #charity10for10 for the @CricketersTrust, supporting players in need, past & present. Without the players there would be no game 🏏🚴🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/JZtm5OSBwC
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) June 4, 2020
Thanks to @willis_macp for the nomination@CricketersTrust and @pca do great work for current and former players but face £250k shortfall after Covid 19 cycle, run or walk 10k and chip in £10 I nominate @JohnSunCricket @MichaelVaughan @CharlesDagnall https://t.co/quE01STaxb pic.twitter.com/2VjWLgINN5 — Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) June 2, 2020
The Trust is also grateful for the ongoing support of the PCA’s commercial partners, who this year are unable to support the charity by attending fundraising events.
Team Derham kicking off the @CricketersTrust #charity10for10 challenge this morning All Sport are proud to work with the @PCA and continue to support this fantastic charity. Andrew, Kevin and the rest of the team – you’re up now! 🏃♂️🏃♀️🚴♀️ https://t.co/Oxp7zlwuHi — All Sport Insurance (@Allsportinsure) June 3, 2020
Many more have taken to social media to spread the word online and increase support for the #charity10for10. Here are some of the best efforts from week one of the challenge:
Marcus Trescothick
Proud to launch a really important @CricketersTrust campaign to help fill a huge loss of fundraising. Please do get involved, tag the Trust and use #charity10for10 I nominate @JasonRoy20, @CurranSM & @Colly622! Good luck lads. Donate 👉 https://t.co/fGTvdlQYfk pic.twitter.com/ccWQUyMici — Marcus Trescothick (@Trescricket) June 1, 2020
Ian Thomas
Completed my @CricketersTrust #charity10for10 challenge last night and donated to https://t.co/nGlWJ8KQ64 good fun and great to support a powerful charity, now nominate @nickwebb2017 @AndrewJWeeks @MarkWallace18 — Ian Thomas (@Bolts329) June 3, 2020
Sophie Ecclestone
Thank you @AlexHartley93 for the #charity10for10 nomination to help raise money for the @CricketersTrust who are doing great things! My first ever 10K run, a massive achievement for me 🙌🙌 I now nominate @Danni_Wyatt @VilliersMady & @jimmyecc4 good luck! pic.twitter.com/jwtbaSPixy — Sophie Ecclestone (@Sophecc19) June 7, 2020
Tom Smith
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We didn’t quite make the full #charity10for10 for @CricketersTrust as Rosie was too 🥵. This charity has made a huge difference to our lives over the past few years and we can’t thank you enough. I would like to nominate @gloucestershire_cricket most passionate distance runners @chrisdent15 @matttaylor36 and @bennycam13 A post shared by Tom Smith (@tmjsmith6) on
Alex Hartley
Thanks @RobboMark4 for the #charity10for10 nomination to help raise money for the @CricketersTrust A brilliant charity doing great things to support past, present and future cricketers! I’ll nominate @Gelwiss @Sophecc19 @batesy10_16 Donate here 👇🏽👇🏽https://t.co/M4C7FakQMg pic.twitter.com/7KPz172TdS — Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) June 7, 2020
Graham Gooch
🚴🏻 PCA President Graham Gooch has completed his challenge for @CricketersTrust!
Please do get involved and support the players’ charity.
Goochie has nominated James Davis, @McCannbespoke & John Emburey!
Donate 👉 https://t.co/5R2Pp7UTlm #charity10for10 pic.twitter.com/76GXithD4A
— PCA (@PCA) June 2, 2020
Sam Curran
Thanks for the nomination @Trescricket I nominate @OPope32 @roryburns17 @DomSibley #10for10 Donate https://t.co/fUlNhhBmuC https://t.co/9Z3XU53csp pic.twitter.com/pWkZBbiLHc — Sam Curran (@CurranSM) June 7, 2020
Martin Cropper
Thats my #charity10for10 done for the @CricketersTrust, proud support such a great charity! Over to you @ryanhiggins21 @AndySalts & @DarynSmit. If you love the game get involved and donate 🙏 https://t.co/46zrHPOYtP pic.twitter.com/eItcy7dDTk — Martin Cropper (@martin_cropper) June 6, 2020
Andrew Strauss
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Just completed the #charity10for10 for the @cricketerstrust. Thanks to @paulcollingwood5 for nominating me. I nominate @officialgraemeswann @mattprior13 @jimmya9. Link in my bio to donate… A post shared by Andrew Strauss (@andrewstrauss_official) on