HomePeopleBTP charity football match raises £4,000

BTP charity football match raises £4,000

Listen to this article

Staff from the British Transport Police (BTP) and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) have raised thousands of pounds for the victims of the Manchester Arena Bombing in a charity football match.

Lily Harrison, an eight-year-old child who suffered a shrapnel wound in the bombing, was the special match mascot in a game that finished 4-2 to the BTP, raising £4,000 in the process.

Held at the Manchester Regional Arena on March 11, the match was the brainchild of Liverpool-based PC Paul Owens, who organised the game with colleagues who had responded to the terrorist attack.

He said: “Football is very therapeutic and in the weeks and months after the bombing it was a good way of being able to talk about our feelings so the idea of a charity match seemed the perfect way to support those affected by what happened.


Like this story? Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on rail industry news


“We were all thrilled by the support we received; by the amount of people who turned up on the day to cheer us on, the items that were donated for the raffle and the donations we received. Everyone had a great day.

“It was incredibly special to have Lily as our mascot on the day. Her courage and bravery at such a young age is really humbling and we were all so pleased to see her and her family.”

The majority of the £4,000 raised will go to the Manchester Emergency Fund set up by the British Red Cross.

Proceeds will also be donated to MIND and COPS, to support BTP officers and NWAS staff affected by the Manchester Arena Bombing.


Read more: Councillor who developed early plans for Metrolink calls time on 41-year political career


 

Recommended