Snooker stars visit children's hospice
World class snooker players Barry Hawkins and Mark Davis took time off from the World Snooker Championship to visit local children's hospice, Bluebell Wood.
The North Anston based hospice looks after children and young adults with a shortened life expectancy and is the official charity of World Snooker for the 2012-13 season. The partnership has already raised over £50,000 for the hospice with lots more initiatives planned including an 'Evening with Barry Hearn and Steve Davis' which will take place on 21 November at the Mercure St. Paul's Hotel, Sheffield.
Mark Davis, who scored a sensational win over four-time champion John Higgins at the Crucible earlier in the week, said: "It was a great experience to meet some of the children at Bluebell Wood and see the incredible work that is done at the hospice."
Davis ran a half marathon last year to raise money for a similar facility in Sussex and he added: "These hospices need money to care for the children and I hope people will do whatever they can to help. World Snooker have got a lot going on at the Crucible to help out including bucket collections and a memorabilia auction so the message to everyone is dig deep!"
Barry Hawkins, who faces world number one Mark Selby in the second round, added: "It was a real eye opener to visit Bluebell Wood. Snooker is just a game and we shouldn't take it too seriously, and when you've got healthy kids of your own, it makes you realise how lucky you are. I just hope we can raise as much money as possible and help where we can."
Claire Rintoul, Chief Executive of Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice said: "It was fabulous for some of our children to meet Barry and Mark today, they were all thrilled to see them and had such a great time.
"We've been so honoured to receive the support of World Snooker, the money they've raised so far is incredible and visits like this are just the icing on the cake."
For more information on the Evening with Barry Hearn and Steve Davis visit http://www.bluebellwood.org/world-snooker/
An online auction of incredible snooker memorabilia will be launched shortly - for details see www.worldsnooker.com
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UK Championship sponsor williamhill.com made a fantastic donation of 8,250 pounds to Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice
At the start of the tournament, williamhill.com pledged to donate £250 for every century break. And the players did their part with 33 tons over the nine days.
That added up to £8,250 for Bluebell Wood, which is World Snooker's official charity this season. For more information on the charity, see www.bluebellwood.org
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Sheffield Park Academy performed their song 'Stand Together' at the York Barbican today just before the start of the williamhill.com UK Championship final.
The song was written by the school's music teacher Mr Rowe and features former pupil Sara Cheesman on lead vocals - with backing vocals provided by students from Year 7 and Year 8. It is available now on itunes to raise money for World Snooker's official charity Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. For more information and to download it CLICK HERE
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Win A VIP Crucible Trip!
Our official charity Bluebell Wood is running a raffle with an incredible prize: a VIP trip to the 2013 World Championship final in Sheffield!
The prize includes two tickets as well as a backstage tour which gives a unique insight into what happens behind the scenes!
Raffle tickets cost just £5 each and all proceeds go to Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. Buy them online now at www.bluebellwoodshop.co.uk
The draw for the raffle takes place on Sunday 28 April 2013.
To find out more about Bluebell Wood click here
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Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Sheffield is World Snooker's official charity for 2012/13.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION
When hearing the news about the partnership Sarah Champion Chief Executive of Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice said: "We are so proud that World Snooker have decided to support Bluebell Wood. It is an incredible honour to be chosen. It is only through the support of organisations such as World Snooker that we can continue giving the vital support to children in our region who will not reach adulthood."
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice cares for children and young adults with a shortened life expectancy. Bluebell Wood is one of only 40 children's hospices in the UK, and covers a large area including all of South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire.
Caring for a child with a shortened life expectancy can be an exhausting, 24 hours a day, 7 day a week job for families, as these children have very complex medical needs.
Bluebell Wood offers planned periods of respite allowing children to enjoy a range of stimulating activities whilst getting the one to one medical care they need. The hospice also offers emergency care, and end of life care allowing parents to spend their last days with their child in a safe, secure and often familiar non-hospital environment.
The support offered to children by Bluebell Wood is invaluable. It costs £3 million each year to provide this care and the hospice receives no statutory government funding. It is only thanks to public support that we can continue to help as many children as we do.
Bluebell Wood is a place filled with laughter and love. We give families the chance to relax, take a break and have fun, and we help support the whole family.
For further information about Bluebell Wood please visit our website www.bluebellwood.org
If you would like to be involved in our partnership with World Snooker or maybe with your club or place of work then please contact Caroline Artschan on 01909 517363.
