CARDIFF, UK – In July 2009, hockey fans from across the UK came together to play in a charity hockey game at Basingstoke arena. Organised by the UK Forum Allstars, the brainchild of Gareth Hubback from Cardiff and David Grant from Sheffield, the weekend was the second annual event for the organisation.
Gareth and David, both keen hockey fans, decided that there was a space in the hockey calendar for a charity summer event. Keen to keep the event nationwide, it relocates arena each year. The first event for the organisation was held at IceSheffield in 2008, raising money for Dreams Come True, a charity which helps bring joy to seriously and terminally ill children by fulfilling their dreams.
In 2009, Dreams Come True was once again a charity of choice for the AllStars and was joined by Breast Cancer Care, a charity providing support to anyone affected by breast cancer. The event was attended by around 50 recreational hockey players, who all raised money for the two charities and was supported by over 200 spectators.
In 2009, the UK Forum All-stars are raised a total of £5,700 for the two charities and a formal presentation of the cheques was made during the Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers EIHL game on Sunday 14th March 2010.
Gareth Hubback is very pleased with the money raised and, together with David Grant is already making plans for UK Forum All-Stars 2010:
“We are absolutely delighted that we have managed to raise such a fantastic amount of money for two fantastic charities. It justifies all the hard work that myself, David and everyone else who helped us before and during the weekend have done. This figure also shows that we have something special here with the UK Forums All-Stars, and something that hockey fans want to be a part of, whether that is by playing in the weekend, by coming along to watch, or by pledging sponsorship. We are working hard to make All-Stars 2010 an even more successful weekend and assisting the work of these two worthwhile charities further”
The final figure of £5,700 was raised by hockey fans throughout the country and was presented to Shiona, representing Dreams Come True; and Catrin, representing Breast Cancer Care.
Representatives of the two charities and the Cardiff Devils and Forum Allstars committee (Photo Helen Fryer)
This year the UK Forum Allstars charity hockey weekend will be held in Cardiff, with details soon to be released. In 2010, they are keen to increase the attendance with four recreational hockey teams facing each other in a knockout competition representing four charities.
Contact the Writer: Victoria.Silverwood@prohockeynews.com
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