Fundraising for Lee Willington
Fundraising this year was very personal and emotional for all of our league members because it was for Lee Willington from Zeus Netball Club who had a cardiac arrest while playing our wonderful game of netball.
Sally Chambers, our Chairman announced this mission at the Annual General Meeting and made a suggestion to nominate Lee as she needs support in the long road ahead and for her two very young children. Sally touched the hearts of all the secretaries at the meeting and they must have spread the word as donations came flooding in.
The league’s aim was to purchase a special chair for Lee, costing around £3,000 which would help her with her difficulties.
At the Secretaries meeting, Joyce Smailes – Honorary Member, got the ball rolling by organising an Easter raffle, raising almost £100 that evening which was the first total on the list towards the fund.
Other special mentions go to:-
Walsall Netball League on their generous donation to our cause
South Staffordshire County – for allowing us to sell cakes at their tournament
Clubs: Old Halesonians, Sutton Royals, Bramford Park, EMS, Dudley Leisure, Ryland, West Bromwich, Fusion and Birmingham City
Blakes Sheds, Heatwave Salon and Flower Fairies
Charity Night – Sedgley Working Mens Club
Tournament – MidRange Netball Club
Raffle prizes and donations – from clubs, supporters & friends
Dudley League Netball Committee and Umpires
During the summer season, Carol Finlan – Fundraising Officer worked tirelessly going round during games with her bucket, asking spectators and players for their loose change or donations. What a pest she became but it was worthwhile. She also organised the charity night with the support of the committee which raised over £1,600. Well done Carol.
Midrange held their 2nd summer tournament in July with 28 teams participating playing in round robin groups and then progressing. A tombola stand was there supported by the league, raising a lot of money for Lee’s fund. Thank you Midrange.
The league changed their playing venue to George Salter’s school in West Bromwich which supplied us with four new courts, padded posts, good floodlighting and a new portacabin. They made us feel very welcome and when they heard about Lee’s situation, this opened up discussion with Sally and a defibrilator has since been purchased by the school. Three committee members have attended a course on how to operate the machine. Our forward vision is, in the event of this happening again, we can save someone’s life. The machine will be on site over the three nights with people there who are qualified to assist.
To show our appreciation to the school, we invited Mr Mick Green – Principal of George Salter’s, to be our guest of honour at the Presentation of trophies evening, held at West Bromwich Albion Football Club on Friday 5th September 2014. Mr Green made a very interesting speech which captured the attention of the audience. One statement he made was - “it is good to win but we learn more by losing”.
Also in attendance was Lee’s mom who was presented with a cheque for the total amount (big drum roll), which was £6,000.!
The room filled with applause; there were lots of tears, shock and happiness that we have been able to support Lee in this way.
With Sally’s words resonating around the room –
“Alone we achieve so little, together we can do so much”.
It was a fitting end to a truly memorable night.
Sally Chambers, our Chairman announced this mission at the Annual General Meeting and made a suggestion to nominate Lee as she needs support in the long road ahead and for her two very young children. Sally touched the hearts of all the secretaries at the meeting and they must have spread the word as donations came flooding in.
The league’s aim was to purchase a special chair for Lee, costing around £3,000 which would help her with her difficulties.
At the Secretaries meeting, Joyce Smailes – Honorary Member, got the ball rolling by organising an Easter raffle, raising almost £100 that evening which was the first total on the list towards the fund.
Other special mentions go to:-
Walsall Netball League on their generous donation to our cause
South Staffordshire County – for allowing us to sell cakes at their tournament
Clubs: Old Halesonians, Sutton Royals, Bramford Park, EMS, Dudley Leisure, Ryland, West Bromwich, Fusion and Birmingham City
Blakes Sheds, Heatwave Salon and Flower Fairies
Charity Night – Sedgley Working Mens Club
Tournament – MidRange Netball Club
Raffle prizes and donations – from clubs, supporters & friends
Dudley League Netball Committee and Umpires
During the summer season, Carol Finlan – Fundraising Officer worked tirelessly going round during games with her bucket, asking spectators and players for their loose change or donations. What a pest she became but it was worthwhile. She also organised the charity night with the support of the committee which raised over £1,600. Well done Carol.
Midrange held their 2nd summer tournament in July with 28 teams participating playing in round robin groups and then progressing. A tombola stand was there supported by the league, raising a lot of money for Lee’s fund. Thank you Midrange.
The league changed their playing venue to George Salter’s school in West Bromwich which supplied us with four new courts, padded posts, good floodlighting and a new portacabin. They made us feel very welcome and when they heard about Lee’s situation, this opened up discussion with Sally and a defibrilator has since been purchased by the school. Three committee members have attended a course on how to operate the machine. Our forward vision is, in the event of this happening again, we can save someone’s life. The machine will be on site over the three nights with people there who are qualified to assist.
To show our appreciation to the school, we invited Mr Mick Green – Principal of George Salter’s, to be our guest of honour at the Presentation of trophies evening, held at West Bromwich Albion Football Club on Friday 5th September 2014. Mr Green made a very interesting speech which captured the attention of the audience. One statement he made was - “it is good to win but we learn more by losing”.
Also in attendance was Lee’s mom who was presented with a cheque for the total amount (big drum roll), which was £6,000.!
The room filled with applause; there were lots of tears, shock and happiness that we have been able to support Lee in this way.
With Sally’s words resonating around the room –
“Alone we achieve so little, together we can do so much”.
It was a fitting end to a truly memorable night.
