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PRESS RELEASE: Fabulous five ready to wade, crawl, jump, climb, run and brave the lake all for a good cause
Release: February 24 2017
A team of five will tackle the might of next month's Monster Race to support a local fundraising organisation in its 10th anniversary year.
Leaseguard Group Ltd, based at Unipart House on Garsington Road in Cowley, Oxford, has assembled a squad to defeat the mighty obstacle assault run at Cornbury Park in West Oxfordshire on April 1st with an aim to help Play2Give help local people in need.
The contract lifecycle management company, which has been running for 25 years, helps NHS Trusts generate savings on their maintenance and leasing contracts.
The team of five, led by Lee Edwards, from Didcot, also includes Lesley Saunders, Jonathan Wickens, and husband and wife pair, Charlie and Martyn Sadler. They hope to raise £400.
The Monster Race will see the fabulous five take on a range of obstacles in 5k or 10k which all includes lots of mud and water including the bog of eternal stench, the great wall, hole in the wall, sandbag slog, tyre crawls, monsterphobia, barbed wire crawls, and the meatgrinder to name just a few, making up a sure fire whetting of an appetite of an event.
Lee, who has been friends with P2G's founder, Andrew Baker, from Didcot, since they first met in 2008 whilst working together at Miele in Abingdon, says: “Andrew’s an inspiration and we are all honoured to take part in the gruelling challenge on Saturday, April 1st to support him and this fantastic cause”.
Lee added: “Andrew has worked tirelessly (with the support of others) to raise extraordinary amounts of money along with some really fantastic initiatives, such as football tournaments which I have had the pleasure of playing in. His (Andrew’s) energy and dedication despite his own challenges cease to amaze!”
P2G, the Guardian and The Oxford Paper's charity of the year, has raised over £55,670 for a catalogue of local charities since Andrew formed the fundraising organisation in September 2007. Of this the children's hospital has benefited from more than £40,000.
Andy, born with a brain injury, has been raising money for charity since the age of 14 in 2003 when he was inspired by treatment he had received including major brain surgery aged 12 from a tumour that developed following a head injury in a playground accident aged eight.
Lee first got involved in supporting P2G's efforts when he played in a Miele team in a football tournament in July 2008.
The funds Leaseguard raise will go into P2G's £10k in 10 appeal this year as part of its 10th anniversary charity campaign. The Childrens Hospital at the John Radcliffe and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, will both benefit from the proceeds raised from a wide array of events and initiatives this year including the beastly effort of the Monster Run.
To sponsor the Leaseguard team, see http://make-a-donation.org/fundraisers/team-p2g
P2G has already raised over £1,900 in its £10k in 10 appeal. And with a host of events in the pipeline they have high hopes of achieving their special milestone year's target, with help from Oxfordshire Guardian and The Oxford Paper readers and staff.
More information on P2G at play2give.org.uk
Attached: Picture - Credit - Lee Edwards - 'Some of the Leaseguard Monster Run team ready to pull on their trainers and their running gear to take on the mighty Monster Run'
Release: February 24 2017
A team of five will tackle the might of next month's Monster Race to support a local fundraising organisation in its 10th anniversary year.
Leaseguard Group Ltd, based at Unipart House on Garsington Road in Cowley, Oxford, has assembled a squad to defeat the mighty obstacle assault run at Cornbury Park in West Oxfordshire on April 1st with an aim to help Play2Give help local people in need.
The contract lifecycle management company, which has been running for 25 years, helps NHS Trusts generate savings on their maintenance and leasing contracts.
The team of five, led by Lee Edwards, from Didcot, also includes Lesley Saunders, Jonathan Wickens, and husband and wife pair, Charlie and Martyn Sadler. They hope to raise £400.
The Monster Race will see the fabulous five take on a range of obstacles in 5k or 10k which all includes lots of mud and water including the bog of eternal stench, the great wall, hole in the wall, sandbag slog, tyre crawls, monsterphobia, barbed wire crawls, and the meatgrinder to name just a few, making up a sure fire whetting of an appetite of an event.
Lee, who has been friends with P2G's founder, Andrew Baker, from Didcot, since they first met in 2008 whilst working together at Miele in Abingdon, says: “Andrew’s an inspiration and we are all honoured to take part in the gruelling challenge on Saturday, April 1st to support him and this fantastic cause”.
Lee added: “Andrew has worked tirelessly (with the support of others) to raise extraordinary amounts of money along with some really fantastic initiatives, such as football tournaments which I have had the pleasure of playing in. His (Andrew’s) energy and dedication despite his own challenges cease to amaze!”
P2G, the Guardian and The Oxford Paper's charity of the year, has raised over £55,670 for a catalogue of local charities since Andrew formed the fundraising organisation in September 2007. Of this the children's hospital has benefited from more than £40,000.
Andy, born with a brain injury, has been raising money for charity since the age of 14 in 2003 when he was inspired by treatment he had received including major brain surgery aged 12 from a tumour that developed following a head injury in a playground accident aged eight.
Lee first got involved in supporting P2G's efforts when he played in a Miele team in a football tournament in July 2008.
The funds Leaseguard raise will go into P2G's £10k in 10 appeal this year as part of its 10th anniversary charity campaign. The Childrens Hospital at the John Radcliffe and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, will both benefit from the proceeds raised from a wide array of events and initiatives this year including the beastly effort of the Monster Run.
To sponsor the Leaseguard team, see http://make-a-donation.org/fundraisers/team-p2g
P2G has already raised over £1,900 in its £10k in 10 appeal. And with a host of events in the pipeline they have high hopes of achieving their special milestone year's target, with help from Oxfordshire Guardian and The Oxford Paper readers and staff.
More information on P2G at play2give.org.uk
Attached: Picture - Credit - Lee Edwards - 'Some of the Leaseguard Monster Run team ready to pull on their trainers and their running gear to take on the mighty Monster Run'
PRESS RELEASE: Sleigh2Give appeal whizzes on as biggest ever Give A Gift For a CHOX Kid Gears Up!
For release: October 21 2016
This year's Sleigh2Give campaign has ramped up a notch with the festive appeal for poorly children in hospital the biggest drive to date with more companies getting involved and not just from Didcot either, as the passion and inspirational character of a Didcot man who nearly 15 years on in fundraising is still going strong, has moved the support of generous supporters to get on board!
The appeal, the second, is Play2Give's annual festive drive to spread cheer, smiles and joy to poorly children at the Oxford Children's Hospital this Christmas. Following the success of last year's Sleigh2Give which saw 3 sacksful of toys and gifts donated, Play2Give founder, Andrew Baker, has already received an astounding level of support from companies, schools and even pubs for this year's round of 'Give A Gift For A CHOX Kid', this year being sponsored by Go Green Taxis. The latest firm to get on board is countywide estate agents, Breckon & Breckon, who sponsor the fundraising organisation's annual football tournaments. With a network of six offices, they are delighted to be one of many donation zones this year.
Set up by Andrew, 28, who has a brain injury, in 2007, the fundraising organisation has netted in over £52,360 over the past nine years. Over £39,000 has been donated to the Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe by the group, and has been shortlisted in the Didcot Business & Community Awards 2016, in the 'Best Fundraising Award' category. The winners of the BACAs - the Oscars of Didcot - will be announced at a prestigious awards gala on November 18th at the Cornerstone in the town. The organisation, set to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, won at last year's BACAs for successful innovative events and campaigns.
Managing director of Breckon & Breckon, Keith Stacey, says: 'Following our continued involvement with the Play2Give summer football tournament, we are pleased to extend our support for the special Christmas 'Give a Gift For a CHOX Kid' appeal as part of our commitment to working closely with our local communities. Breckon & Breckon and our network of offices across Oxfordshire are delighted to be drop off points, so please bring along your donation for this good cause.'
Andrew was inspired to support the Children's Hospital after suffering a brain injury at birth, and throughout childhood treatment including major brain surgery aged 12 in 2001, he was one of the first young supporters to begin raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital. He lead and inspired fundraising efforts at St Birinus School, which in 2003 earnt him the title of the 'Heart FM Local Young Hero' and at Didcot Girls' School as a sixth former. In 2013 he won the Oxfordshire Youth Enterprise Award and has gone on to raise with the help and support of thousands of friends and fundraising ambassadors, over £65,000 for local causes close to his heart, such as the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire.
Sponsors Go Green Taxis spokesperson, Hannah Wilcock, says: 'Go Green Taxis are very proud to be sponsoring and supporting such a worthwhile campaign that will really make a difference to the children within our local community. We love to be a part of the community and to support local charities and so we are very honoured to be a part of this special campaign. All donations are going towards a fantastic cause and Go Green are proud to be involved with this. Andrew and his team works very hard organising many fantastic campaigns for this charity and Go Green cannot wait to be a part of this and many more to come!"
Elf Andrew and his team of helpers will deliver presents to the wards of the hospital in the final week before Christmas. Donations have already been pouring in, even more than this time last year, and you can donate at one of many other donation points including Tesco Didcot on 25th-27th November, The Royal Oak, on Park Road, Didcot, The Ladygrove Generous George and UTC Oxfordshire Sport all in Didcot, Oxford Harlequins RFC, Champions in Wallingford, to many others, which keep growing in support, with the full list available with fuller details of how to get involved, sponsor or make a donation, at www.play2give.org.uk.
For release: October 21 2016
This year's Sleigh2Give campaign has ramped up a notch with the festive appeal for poorly children in hospital the biggest drive to date with more companies getting involved and not just from Didcot either, as the passion and inspirational character of a Didcot man who nearly 15 years on in fundraising is still going strong, has moved the support of generous supporters to get on board!
The appeal, the second, is Play2Give's annual festive drive to spread cheer, smiles and joy to poorly children at the Oxford Children's Hospital this Christmas. Following the success of last year's Sleigh2Give which saw 3 sacksful of toys and gifts donated, Play2Give founder, Andrew Baker, has already received an astounding level of support from companies, schools and even pubs for this year's round of 'Give A Gift For A CHOX Kid', this year being sponsored by Go Green Taxis. The latest firm to get on board is countywide estate agents, Breckon & Breckon, who sponsor the fundraising organisation's annual football tournaments. With a network of six offices, they are delighted to be one of many donation zones this year.
Set up by Andrew, 28, who has a brain injury, in 2007, the fundraising organisation has netted in over £52,360 over the past nine years. Over £39,000 has been donated to the Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe by the group, and has been shortlisted in the Didcot Business & Community Awards 2016, in the 'Best Fundraising Award' category. The winners of the BACAs - the Oscars of Didcot - will be announced at a prestigious awards gala on November 18th at the Cornerstone in the town. The organisation, set to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, won at last year's BACAs for successful innovative events and campaigns.
Managing director of Breckon & Breckon, Keith Stacey, says: 'Following our continued involvement with the Play2Give summer football tournament, we are pleased to extend our support for the special Christmas 'Give a Gift For a CHOX Kid' appeal as part of our commitment to working closely with our local communities. Breckon & Breckon and our network of offices across Oxfordshire are delighted to be drop off points, so please bring along your donation for this good cause.'
Andrew was inspired to support the Children's Hospital after suffering a brain injury at birth, and throughout childhood treatment including major brain surgery aged 12 in 2001, he was one of the first young supporters to begin raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital. He lead and inspired fundraising efforts at St Birinus School, which in 2003 earnt him the title of the 'Heart FM Local Young Hero' and at Didcot Girls' School as a sixth former. In 2013 he won the Oxfordshire Youth Enterprise Award and has gone on to raise with the help and support of thousands of friends and fundraising ambassadors, over £65,000 for local causes close to his heart, such as the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire.
Sponsors Go Green Taxis spokesperson, Hannah Wilcock, says: 'Go Green Taxis are very proud to be sponsoring and supporting such a worthwhile campaign that will really make a difference to the children within our local community. We love to be a part of the community and to support local charities and so we are very honoured to be a part of this special campaign. All donations are going towards a fantastic cause and Go Green are proud to be involved with this. Andrew and his team works very hard organising many fantastic campaigns for this charity and Go Green cannot wait to be a part of this and many more to come!"
Elf Andrew and his team of helpers will deliver presents to the wards of the hospital in the final week before Christmas. Donations have already been pouring in, even more than this time last year, and you can donate at one of many other donation points including Tesco Didcot on 25th-27th November, The Royal Oak, on Park Road, Didcot, The Ladygrove Generous George and UTC Oxfordshire Sport all in Didcot, Oxford Harlequins RFC, Champions in Wallingford, to many others, which keep growing in support, with the full list available with fuller details of how to get involved, sponsor or make a donation, at www.play2give.org.uk.
PRESS RELEASE: Estate agents pitch in with footballers' fundraising efforts
For release: July 15 2016
The budding Bale's and roving Ramsay's of Oxfordshire came together to net in thousands of pounds for charity with a men's football tournament earlier this month.
The football tournament, organised by award-winning fundraising group Play2Give, was held on July 3rd at Oxford City Football Club, with a range of 12 six a side teams of blokes together to shoot goals not just on the pitch but for both Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire too.
The Play2Give tournament, the eighth host at Oxford City ground on Marsh Lane, Marston, was a fantastic success - which saw 12 six a side squads from firms including Allmakes 4x4 on Milton Park, to accountants The M Group, Cottsway Housing in Witney and MMR Research Worldwide in Wallingford to others - contest the competition. So far over £2,550 has been pitched in for the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, based in Kennington.
Oxford's leading independent estate and letting agents Breckon & Breckon with a host of offices across the county helped to pitch in with the fundraising efforts on the day too, with a fantastic coconut shy and having sponsored the event for a fifth year running, contributed £1,053 in total towards the tournament's charitable goals. The firm with a total of nine offices across the county has given over £5,500 in total towards the football tournaments through being main sponsor and their famous coconut shy. This year one young lady managed to knock off five coconuts with her ten balls making for an event record!
Pictured (attached) is Ben Turner, Sales Manager of the Oxford Apartments division, left, presenting event organisers Andrew Baker, centre, Elaine Childs and Craig Harris, right, with the cheque totalling £1,053. Keith Stacey, Breckon & Breckon's MD, says: "We were delighted to continue our support of this great day out as part of our commitment to work closely with our local community. Andy Baker is a real inspiration and deserves all the help he and his team can get in raising money for such good causes as the Children's Hospital at the JR. In 2016 we are supporting over 25 Primary School fetes together with other local charities. For us it's not just about the financial support, we like to roll up our sleeves and attend on the day"
Didcot BACA Winner, Play2Give, has raised over £48,660 for a range of charitable causes in Oxfordshire since its inception in 2007. The fundraising organisation was set up by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 28, who began raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital aged 14 as a pupil at St Birinus School in 2003.
The Play2Give group also hold other events such as successful fundraising parties and teams in Monster Runs amongst much else to raise funds and awareness of the Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew was inspired to raise funds for the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital, which opened in January 2007, after receiving treatment throughout childhood following a brain injury at birth and major brain surgery in 2001. With an army of thousands of fundraising friends and football tournaments supporters over the past 14 years, Andrew has raised over £63,610 - with £52,405 of this donated to the Children's Hospital.
The day also featured a bouncy castle, a raffle, a pair of Silverstone race day tickets auctioned, and music together with food and refreshments. It is hoped that up to £3,000 from the latest event on July 3rd could be netted in total once all proceeds have rolled in. The event was also sponsored by Newbury Building Society.
Andrew says: "It was brilliant to see so many people from businesses to the community at large come out to enjoy a great day of footballing whilst raising money for some truly special causes locally. It was a hotly contested event, and we were incredibly happy with the success of the day after so much hard work put in by the team. We would like to extend our hugest thanks to Oxford City FC, our sponsors Breckon & Breckon, Newbury Building Society, Radio Cherwell, all the players, referees and everyone involved!"
For more information, or to donate, see play2give.org.uk
For release: July 15 2016
The budding Bale's and roving Ramsay's of Oxfordshire came together to net in thousands of pounds for charity with a men's football tournament earlier this month.
The football tournament, organised by award-winning fundraising group Play2Give, was held on July 3rd at Oxford City Football Club, with a range of 12 six a side teams of blokes together to shoot goals not just on the pitch but for both Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire too.
The Play2Give tournament, the eighth host at Oxford City ground on Marsh Lane, Marston, was a fantastic success - which saw 12 six a side squads from firms including Allmakes 4x4 on Milton Park, to accountants The M Group, Cottsway Housing in Witney and MMR Research Worldwide in Wallingford to others - contest the competition. So far over £2,550 has been pitched in for the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, based in Kennington.
Oxford's leading independent estate and letting agents Breckon & Breckon with a host of offices across the county helped to pitch in with the fundraising efforts on the day too, with a fantastic coconut shy and having sponsored the event for a fifth year running, contributed £1,053 in total towards the tournament's charitable goals. The firm with a total of nine offices across the county has given over £5,500 in total towards the football tournaments through being main sponsor and their famous coconut shy. This year one young lady managed to knock off five coconuts with her ten balls making for an event record!
Pictured (attached) is Ben Turner, Sales Manager of the Oxford Apartments division, left, presenting event organisers Andrew Baker, centre, Elaine Childs and Craig Harris, right, with the cheque totalling £1,053. Keith Stacey, Breckon & Breckon's MD, says: "We were delighted to continue our support of this great day out as part of our commitment to work closely with our local community. Andy Baker is a real inspiration and deserves all the help he and his team can get in raising money for such good causes as the Children's Hospital at the JR. In 2016 we are supporting over 25 Primary School fetes together with other local charities. For us it's not just about the financial support, we like to roll up our sleeves and attend on the day"
Didcot BACA Winner, Play2Give, has raised over £48,660 for a range of charitable causes in Oxfordshire since its inception in 2007. The fundraising organisation was set up by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 28, who began raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital aged 14 as a pupil at St Birinus School in 2003.
The Play2Give group also hold other events such as successful fundraising parties and teams in Monster Runs amongst much else to raise funds and awareness of the Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew was inspired to raise funds for the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital, which opened in January 2007, after receiving treatment throughout childhood following a brain injury at birth and major brain surgery in 2001. With an army of thousands of fundraising friends and football tournaments supporters over the past 14 years, Andrew has raised over £63,610 - with £52,405 of this donated to the Children's Hospital.
The day also featured a bouncy castle, a raffle, a pair of Silverstone race day tickets auctioned, and music together with food and refreshments. It is hoped that up to £3,000 from the latest event on July 3rd could be netted in total once all proceeds have rolled in. The event was also sponsored by Newbury Building Society.
Andrew says: "It was brilliant to see so many people from businesses to the community at large come out to enjoy a great day of footballing whilst raising money for some truly special causes locally. It was a hotly contested event, and we were incredibly happy with the success of the day after so much hard work put in by the team. We would like to extend our hugest thanks to Oxford City FC, our sponsors Breckon & Breckon, Newbury Building Society, Radio Cherwell, all the players, referees and everyone involved!"
For more information, or to donate, see play2give.org.uk
Breckon & Breckon chip into the tournament fundraising... From left P2G's Craig Harris, Andy Baker and Elaine Childs, with Ben Turner from the company
PRESS RELEASE: The countdown is on to charity football kick off as Play2Give's annual tournament warms up
For release: June 24 2016
The countdown is on as one of the popular charity tournaments in the county prepares to warm up and kick off for another goal in one.
The annual Play2Give football tournament returns for its eighth year to score some superb objectives on Sunday July 3rd which will see teams from local businesses and groups of budding Beckham's and Lampard's take to the pitch for a fun friendly day of footballing fun. The 6 a side men's contest will take place on the 3G pitches of Oxford City Football Club's community arena to raise thousands of pounds for the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire, which supports over 400 adults with acquired brain injuries and their carer's families.
In previous years, the well renowned Play2Give football tournaments have raised over £33,600 since being established in 2007 with the Oxford Children's Hospital having benefited from around £30,180 alone. The football tournaments have become hugely established in Oxfordshire and a firm favourite in the county's charity calendar amongst the many footballers that take part from the very young to the more mature and older alike. Award-winning Didcot BACA Play2Give organise many fundraising events and initiatives each year for its chosen charities with its football tournaments having been hailed as the best tournament in Oxfordshire for charity by many teams in the past. In total, Play2Give has donated over £47,730 and will celebrate its big tenth birthday next year.
Both the Children's Hospital and Headway, based in Kennington, are close to the hearts of the Play2Give team of volunteers and, in particular to its founder, Andrew Baker. The 28-year-old former St Birinus School pupil, who set up Play2Give in 2007, sustained a brain injury at birth and spent the first few days of his life fighting for life in the special care baby unit of the John Radcliffe Hospital. Aged eight Andrew, of Great Western Drive, Didcot, suffered a further head injury after being knocked over at school and aged 12 in 2001 he underwent major brain surgery to a tumour. Today, he continues to fight strong through attending a weekly group at the Headway centre as part of his rehabilitation. His surgery at the Radcliffe Infirmary in 2001 was the catalyst for Andrew to begin fundraising aged 14 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Companies warming up and set to don their football boots and kits for this special tournament include MMR Research, based in Wallingford, Allmakes 4x4 on Milton Park near Abingdon and The M Group in Oxford. Tom Bowling, Senior Statistician, at MMR says: "We're really looking forward to the Play2Give tournament. It should be a great day out and an opportunity to raise money for a fantastic cause, of whom we are inspired by the founder Andrew for the fantastic work he and his team do, and we can't wait to don our boots and strike some hopeful goals for what is a brilliant event."
Allmakes 4x4 with over 30 years of trading are a worldwide supplier of parts and accessories for land rover vehicles, and has grown into one of the most recognised suppliers for land rover parts in existence. Other teams set to take part include Cottsway Housing Association in Witney and Oxford's MY OX4 Lifeline, a community recovery hub for individuals achieving and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
In total 14 teams will battle it out. The event is sponsored by estate agents Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society. There will be music from Radio Cherwell, food and refreshments, a raffle and a bouncy castle.
Thanks to thousands of supporters, Andrew has raised more than £62,700 for charities, with over £52,150 for the Children's Hospital.
For release: June 24 2016
The countdown is on as one of the popular charity tournaments in the county prepares to warm up and kick off for another goal in one.
The annual Play2Give football tournament returns for its eighth year to score some superb objectives on Sunday July 3rd which will see teams from local businesses and groups of budding Beckham's and Lampard's take to the pitch for a fun friendly day of footballing fun. The 6 a side men's contest will take place on the 3G pitches of Oxford City Football Club's community arena to raise thousands of pounds for the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire, which supports over 400 adults with acquired brain injuries and their carer's families.
In previous years, the well renowned Play2Give football tournaments have raised over £33,600 since being established in 2007 with the Oxford Children's Hospital having benefited from around £30,180 alone. The football tournaments have become hugely established in Oxfordshire and a firm favourite in the county's charity calendar amongst the many footballers that take part from the very young to the more mature and older alike. Award-winning Didcot BACA Play2Give organise many fundraising events and initiatives each year for its chosen charities with its football tournaments having been hailed as the best tournament in Oxfordshire for charity by many teams in the past. In total, Play2Give has donated over £47,730 and will celebrate its big tenth birthday next year.
Both the Children's Hospital and Headway, based in Kennington, are close to the hearts of the Play2Give team of volunteers and, in particular to its founder, Andrew Baker. The 28-year-old former St Birinus School pupil, who set up Play2Give in 2007, sustained a brain injury at birth and spent the first few days of his life fighting for life in the special care baby unit of the John Radcliffe Hospital. Aged eight Andrew, of Great Western Drive, Didcot, suffered a further head injury after being knocked over at school and aged 12 in 2001 he underwent major brain surgery to a tumour. Today, he continues to fight strong through attending a weekly group at the Headway centre as part of his rehabilitation. His surgery at the Radcliffe Infirmary in 2001 was the catalyst for Andrew to begin fundraising aged 14 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Companies warming up and set to don their football boots and kits for this special tournament include MMR Research, based in Wallingford, Allmakes 4x4 on Milton Park near Abingdon and The M Group in Oxford. Tom Bowling, Senior Statistician, at MMR says: "We're really looking forward to the Play2Give tournament. It should be a great day out and an opportunity to raise money for a fantastic cause, of whom we are inspired by the founder Andrew for the fantastic work he and his team do, and we can't wait to don our boots and strike some hopeful goals for what is a brilliant event."
Allmakes 4x4 with over 30 years of trading are a worldwide supplier of parts and accessories for land rover vehicles, and has grown into one of the most recognised suppliers for land rover parts in existence. Other teams set to take part include Cottsway Housing Association in Witney and Oxford's MY OX4 Lifeline, a community recovery hub for individuals achieving and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
In total 14 teams will battle it out. The event is sponsored by estate agents Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society. There will be music from Radio Cherwell, food and refreshments, a raffle and a bouncy castle.
Thanks to thousands of supporters, Andrew has raised more than £62,700 for charities, with over £52,150 for the Children's Hospital.
PRESS RELEASE: The force was with Sainsbury's Didcot in Star Wars Raffle for Children's Hospital PlayStation Appeal
For release: June 24 2016
May the force be with you... and it certainly was the case for Sainsbury's in Didcot as generous customers and colleagues dug deep at the store to support a fundraising drive for entertainment at the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The store in June held a raffle over three days as part of an appeal using life-size Star Wars characters to help raise funds for the entertainment of PlayStation for the John Radcliffe paediatric unit’s teenage ward.
After hearing that controllers to a PlayStation 3 were stolen from Melanie’s Ward the store responded and used the opportunity to gather up funds by raffling three giant cardboard cut outs of two of the characters from the popular film franchise which was driven by Didcot’s Andrew Baker.
Andrew, 28, a former checkout colleague at the store, and founder of charity Play2Give, is no stranger to supporting the hospital as he has raised money for the facility, which opened in January 2007, over the past 14 years. The raffle in the store’s foyer was so successful with over £210 raised in ticket sales. The store now aim to raise an additional £100 or more to buy a new PlayStation, games and controllers for the teenage ward with a sold-out quiz night on June 29th and car screen washing at its petrol station next month, in which volunteers are being appealed to come forward to help.
The Didcot branch of the supermarket chain has been incredibly supportive of the children’s hospital in the past, through supporting Play2Give’s fundraising aims with second hand book sales, wristband sales, a raffle at a recent staff party and adopting the fundraising organisation, set up by Andrew, over the course of a year from July 2014, which saw a record £4,310 raised by the store’s colleagues and customers through 12 months of fundraising.
Andrew added: ‘The store always is fantastic when it comes to fundraising and the children’s hospital is no exception. I was only too happy to help to help with this appeal. Having been a patient in my childhood I know only too well from first-hand experience how important entertainment is for boredom and to help recovery whilst in hospital. When I was on the Radcliffe Infirmary teenage unit, the facilities was so outdated that the TVs didn’t work and there was no PlayStations – so seeing the generosity of the customers really melted my heart and can’t wait to see the smiles on the teens faces when we deliver the goodies later in the year.’
Notes to Editors:
For release: June 24 2016
May the force be with you... and it certainly was the case for Sainsbury's in Didcot as generous customers and colleagues dug deep at the store to support a fundraising drive for entertainment at the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The store in June held a raffle over three days as part of an appeal using life-size Star Wars characters to help raise funds for the entertainment of PlayStation for the John Radcliffe paediatric unit’s teenage ward.
After hearing that controllers to a PlayStation 3 were stolen from Melanie’s Ward the store responded and used the opportunity to gather up funds by raffling three giant cardboard cut outs of two of the characters from the popular film franchise which was driven by Didcot’s Andrew Baker.
Andrew, 28, a former checkout colleague at the store, and founder of charity Play2Give, is no stranger to supporting the hospital as he has raised money for the facility, which opened in January 2007, over the past 14 years. The raffle in the store’s foyer was so successful with over £210 raised in ticket sales. The store now aim to raise an additional £100 or more to buy a new PlayStation, games and controllers for the teenage ward with a sold-out quiz night on June 29th and car screen washing at its petrol station next month, in which volunteers are being appealed to come forward to help.
The Didcot branch of the supermarket chain has been incredibly supportive of the children’s hospital in the past, through supporting Play2Give’s fundraising aims with second hand book sales, wristband sales, a raffle at a recent staff party and adopting the fundraising organisation, set up by Andrew, over the course of a year from July 2014, which saw a record £4,310 raised by the store’s colleagues and customers through 12 months of fundraising.
Andrew added: ‘The store always is fantastic when it comes to fundraising and the children’s hospital is no exception. I was only too happy to help to help with this appeal. Having been a patient in my childhood I know only too well from first-hand experience how important entertainment is for boredom and to help recovery whilst in hospital. When I was on the Radcliffe Infirmary teenage unit, the facilities was so outdated that the TVs didn’t work and there was no PlayStations – so seeing the generosity of the customers really melted my heart and can’t wait to see the smiles on the teens faces when we deliver the goodies later in the year.’
Notes to Editors:
- To contact Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador, Sainsbury’s Didcot: 01235 814159
- To speak to Andrew Baker, Play2Give: 07939064308 / play2give@hotmail.com
- The Sainsbury’s charity quiz night for the children’s hospital takes place on 29 June in the customer café. Tickets sales were a sell-out. There will also a raffle with a fish and chips supper.
- Volunteers are needed for the store’s car screen washing service next month. The car washes will take place between 12pm-3pm on the 16th July and 23rd July. Anyone interested should contact Veronica at the store or Andrew Baker.
Andrew Baker with Lucas Cox, 9, a patient of the Oxford Children's Hospital and little helper of the raffle inspiring funds
PRESS RELEASE: Fundraising Organisation Play2Give Caps Off Successful Year with Two Big Charity Award Nominations
For release: May 12 2016
An Oxfordshire fundraising organisation that goes from strength to strength and has helped literally thousands since its creation has been recognised in prestigious charity awards of Oxfordshire.
Play2Give, set up in 2007 by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 27, has gone on to donate over £47,100 over the past 8 years for a range of local chosen charities.
The group was recognised in the Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards 2016 in a ceremony held at Oxford Town Hall on the evening of May 11th where Play2Give was nominated for not just one but two awards. Play2Give was nominated in Best Team of Volunteers as well as the biggest accolade - Charity of the Year.
The nominations follow on from the organisation's most successful year ever in 2015 when a record £13,532 was raised including over £9,430 to the Oxford Children's Hospital.
In November last year the Didcot Business and Community Awards (BACAs) celebrated Play2Give's work with the win of Best Fundraising Innovation Award.
Play2Give celebrates its big 10th anniversary next year and has plans for lots of events and activities, including a celebratory charity ball, as part of a campaign to raise £10,000 in 10 as part of its special landmark anniversary and any company, trust or grant giving scheme wishing to help sponsor the group next year should email play2give@hotmail.com or see play2give.org.uk
For release: May 12 2016
An Oxfordshire fundraising organisation that goes from strength to strength and has helped literally thousands since its creation has been recognised in prestigious charity awards of Oxfordshire.
Play2Give, set up in 2007 by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 27, has gone on to donate over £47,100 over the past 8 years for a range of local chosen charities.
The group was recognised in the Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards 2016 in a ceremony held at Oxford Town Hall on the evening of May 11th where Play2Give was nominated for not just one but two awards. Play2Give was nominated in Best Team of Volunteers as well as the biggest accolade - Charity of the Year.
The nominations follow on from the organisation's most successful year ever in 2015 when a record £13,532 was raised including over £9,430 to the Oxford Children's Hospital.
In November last year the Didcot Business and Community Awards (BACAs) celebrated Play2Give's work with the win of Best Fundraising Innovation Award.
Play2Give celebrates its big 10th anniversary next year and has plans for lots of events and activities, including a celebratory charity ball, as part of a campaign to raise £10,000 in 10 as part of its special landmark anniversary and any company, trust or grant giving scheme wishing to help sponsor the group next year should email play2give@hotmail.com or see play2give.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE: Making Headway as Play2Give Kicks Off Fresh Fundraising Year with a Beautiful Charity Game
For release: March 11 2016
Two squads of charitable superstars will take to the 3G pitch at Oxford City Football Club for a special football match on March 19th to raise funds for two local causes.
The match, organised by Play2Give, in partnership with the brain injury charity Headway Oxfordshire will see both charities go head to head in a nail-biting 90-minute game to vie to be crowned 2016 champions.
The Headway Heroes team will be made up of staff, volunteers and supporters whilst P2G’s Star squad will be made up of volunteers and supporters. The proceeds from the special match will be donated to Headway Oxfordshire, based in Kennington, and the Oxford Children’s Hospital – it is hoped from players’ donations alone together with bucket whip rounds that up to £300 could be netted in.
Play2Give is no stranger to charitable giving or the beautiful game of football itself, as the award-winning fundraising organisation has scored over £45,700 for a catalogue of charities in the county, with the Children’s Hospital alone having benefited from over £36,200 over the past 8 years.
Andrew Baker from Didcot founded Play2Give in 2007 after being inspired to support the children’s hospital after treatment throughout childhood – including brain surgery aged 12. The 27-year-old also suffered a brain injury at birth, and so Headway Oxfordshire is also a cause with special personal significance, as he attends their activity & rehabilitation centre once a week. Andrew began supporting the children’s hospital aged 14 in 2003 as a pupil at Didcot’s St Birinus School when he inspired and coordinated the school’s fundraising efforts to help raise £15million for the total cost of building the hospital, which opened in 2007.
In November Play2Give won the ‘Best Fundraising Innovation/Campaign’ Award in the 2015 Didcot Business & Community Awards, which in the same year, saw the group, also run by volunteers Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs, achieve their best year ever in a staggering £13,532 raised!
In September 2014 The P2G Stars contested a Super Sainsbury’s staff team from the Didcot supermarket, when the store’s side lost 20-1 to Andrew’s victorious squad. The first match, organised as part of the Didcot store’s year of support for Play2Give, raised £242.
Headway’s events and publicity manager, Charlie Hayes, said: “We all have a special place in our hearts for Play2Give and all the amazing fundraising it has done over the years for its charities including for us at Headway Oxfordshire. Andy Baker’s tireless support for us means a huge amount to all of us and we would also like to thank Oxford City FC for supporting this event.”
The game on March 19th is the start of an association with the community-focused football club, in Marston, who has pledged its full support to fundraising and awareness for Headway. In December Andrew set up a petition: “Save Headway Oxfordshire: Brain Injured Will Battle Against the Cuts’ – which has gained 325 signatures – after learning the organisation faced severe cuts in its funding from Oxfordshire County Council which would severely impact upon its services its can provide for the 260 brain injury survivors and their families the charity currently supports.
The charity game coincides with Oxford City’s home match against Wealdstone FC, which kicks off at 3pm. The charity match will take off at a 5pm kick off. For more information, see play2give.org.uk and where donations can be made. Spectators are welcome.
For release: March 11 2016
Two squads of charitable superstars will take to the 3G pitch at Oxford City Football Club for a special football match on March 19th to raise funds for two local causes.
The match, organised by Play2Give, in partnership with the brain injury charity Headway Oxfordshire will see both charities go head to head in a nail-biting 90-minute game to vie to be crowned 2016 champions.
The Headway Heroes team will be made up of staff, volunteers and supporters whilst P2G’s Star squad will be made up of volunteers and supporters. The proceeds from the special match will be donated to Headway Oxfordshire, based in Kennington, and the Oxford Children’s Hospital – it is hoped from players’ donations alone together with bucket whip rounds that up to £300 could be netted in.
Play2Give is no stranger to charitable giving or the beautiful game of football itself, as the award-winning fundraising organisation has scored over £45,700 for a catalogue of charities in the county, with the Children’s Hospital alone having benefited from over £36,200 over the past 8 years.
Andrew Baker from Didcot founded Play2Give in 2007 after being inspired to support the children’s hospital after treatment throughout childhood – including brain surgery aged 12. The 27-year-old also suffered a brain injury at birth, and so Headway Oxfordshire is also a cause with special personal significance, as he attends their activity & rehabilitation centre once a week. Andrew began supporting the children’s hospital aged 14 in 2003 as a pupil at Didcot’s St Birinus School when he inspired and coordinated the school’s fundraising efforts to help raise £15million for the total cost of building the hospital, which opened in 2007.
In November Play2Give won the ‘Best Fundraising Innovation/Campaign’ Award in the 2015 Didcot Business & Community Awards, which in the same year, saw the group, also run by volunteers Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs, achieve their best year ever in a staggering £13,532 raised!
In September 2014 The P2G Stars contested a Super Sainsbury’s staff team from the Didcot supermarket, when the store’s side lost 20-1 to Andrew’s victorious squad. The first match, organised as part of the Didcot store’s year of support for Play2Give, raised £242.
Headway’s events and publicity manager, Charlie Hayes, said: “We all have a special place in our hearts for Play2Give and all the amazing fundraising it has done over the years for its charities including for us at Headway Oxfordshire. Andy Baker’s tireless support for us means a huge amount to all of us and we would also like to thank Oxford City FC for supporting this event.”
The game on March 19th is the start of an association with the community-focused football club, in Marston, who has pledged its full support to fundraising and awareness for Headway. In December Andrew set up a petition: “Save Headway Oxfordshire: Brain Injured Will Battle Against the Cuts’ – which has gained 325 signatures – after learning the organisation faced severe cuts in its funding from Oxfordshire County Council which would severely impact upon its services its can provide for the 260 brain injury survivors and their families the charity currently supports.
The charity game coincides with Oxford City’s home match against Wealdstone FC, which kicks off at 3pm. The charity match will take off at a 5pm kick off. For more information, see play2give.org.uk and where donations can be made. Spectators are welcome.
Play2Give Is Best of Fundraising Winner in 2015 BACAs - 16 November 2015
Dale, Andrew (centre) and Teresa, presented with the award by Mayor of Didcot, right, and Didcot Rotary Club, left
We are thrilled to have won a prestigious Business & Community Award (BACA) at a gala awards evening held on Friday 13th November - and what a lucky 13th it was!
Representatives and the three original team members of Play2Give, Andrew Baker (founder) together with Dale Harris and Teresa Strike attended the gala event held at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot and were presented with the Best Fundraising Innovation Award by the judge and award sponsor, Didcot Rotary Club's Colin Campbell and Mayor of Didcot, Des Healy, and given a cash prize of £100 towards our good work in the community supporting local charities.
The ceremony on Friday night was attended by 36 shortlisted organisations, local dignitaries and business leaders, and we were delighted to be honoured in front of 220 guests at a sold-out Auditorium. During the glittering 'Oscars' style event, exciting local Acts including Didcot Sings Choir, Wantage Silver Band and Didcot Phoenix Taekwondo entertained the audience, in between award presentations.
Andrew, 27, said: "We were really surprised to bag the best fundraising award at this year's BACAs and we are immensely proud of our achievement on winning this very special gong. This year has been our most successful year of fundraising to date, so to win this award unexpectedly in our best year yet symbolising our commitment to a catalyst of charities is the icing on the cake for Play2Give!"
Andrew added: "We all work incredibly hard each year to raise as much money as we can for our chosen charities and we look forward to another busy and momentous year of fundraising ahead. Winning this award really means a lot to us as volunteers with a real passion. The event was a fantastic night with lots of incredible talent and the great of Didcot's charitable and business heroes all together in one room!"
Emma East, from Didcot First said: "We are delighted the Judges chose Play2Give to receive a BACAs award, which recognises them for their hard work and dedication to the local community."
This was the 7th year of the BACAs, organised by Didcot First, and supported by Taylor Wimpey. Individual awards were sponsored by Delicious of Wantage, Didcot Chamber of Commerce, Jennings of Garsington Ltd, Rotary Club of Didcot, Wallingford & District Rotary Club, Soha Housing and UTC Oxfordshire.
We would like to say a very big thank you to the BACAs and their Judges for choosing us to win - we are over the moon to have been recognised not just as a shortlisted finalist but as the very best of fundraising winner and we would like to thank all of our very loyal and ever growing supporters who have helped us towards winning this special recognition, and throughout our 8-year history!
For details of all nominated and shortlisted nominees, please see www.didcotfirst.org.uk
Representatives and the three original team members of Play2Give, Andrew Baker (founder) together with Dale Harris and Teresa Strike attended the gala event held at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot and were presented with the Best Fundraising Innovation Award by the judge and award sponsor, Didcot Rotary Club's Colin Campbell and Mayor of Didcot, Des Healy, and given a cash prize of £100 towards our good work in the community supporting local charities.
The ceremony on Friday night was attended by 36 shortlisted organisations, local dignitaries and business leaders, and we were delighted to be honoured in front of 220 guests at a sold-out Auditorium. During the glittering 'Oscars' style event, exciting local Acts including Didcot Sings Choir, Wantage Silver Band and Didcot Phoenix Taekwondo entertained the audience, in between award presentations.
Andrew, 27, said: "We were really surprised to bag the best fundraising award at this year's BACAs and we are immensely proud of our achievement on winning this very special gong. This year has been our most successful year of fundraising to date, so to win this award unexpectedly in our best year yet symbolising our commitment to a catalyst of charities is the icing on the cake for Play2Give!"
Andrew added: "We all work incredibly hard each year to raise as much money as we can for our chosen charities and we look forward to another busy and momentous year of fundraising ahead. Winning this award really means a lot to us as volunteers with a real passion. The event was a fantastic night with lots of incredible talent and the great of Didcot's charitable and business heroes all together in one room!"
Emma East, from Didcot First said: "We are delighted the Judges chose Play2Give to receive a BACAs award, which recognises them for their hard work and dedication to the local community."
This was the 7th year of the BACAs, organised by Didcot First, and supported by Taylor Wimpey. Individual awards were sponsored by Delicious of Wantage, Didcot Chamber of Commerce, Jennings of Garsington Ltd, Rotary Club of Didcot, Wallingford & District Rotary Club, Soha Housing and UTC Oxfordshire.
We would like to say a very big thank you to the BACAs and their Judges for choosing us to win - we are over the moon to have been recognised not just as a shortlisted finalist but as the very best of fundraising winner and we would like to thank all of our very loyal and ever growing supporters who have helped us towards winning this special recognition, and throughout our 8-year history!
For details of all nominated and shortlisted nominees, please see www.didcotfirst.org.uk
All the winners on stage...
Willowbrook Superheroes Get in a Spin for Charity - 21 September 2015
Spinathon Superheroes with Andrew Baker, right, as Robin
Spinathon competitors are supeheroes for one day raising super funds for charity!
Fundraisers got in a spin at Willowbrook Leisure Centre with a fun 6-hour endurance Spinathon challenge raising funds for local charities through supporting Play2Give's fundraising objectives.
The event, Superhero themed, was great fun and saw around 35 participants take part in six 6-hour sessions throughout the day, which even saw the likes of Batwoman, Spiderman, evil Spiderman, Superwoman and Batman's best friend, Robin (alias Andrew Baker), take part too adding to the hilarity!
The leisure centre in Didcot, on Bowmont Water, chose to donate all proceeds raised to Play2Give - a local fundraising organisation set up by the town's Andrew Baker, 27, in 2007. The event which was a success raised £383.57 - and proceeds also came from a cakes sale and raffle, with cakes from doughnuts to cupcakes donated by Tesco and Sainsbury's, both in the town.
Raffle prizes came in the form of two giftcards donated by The Entertainer toy shop in the Orchard Centre, a bottle of prosecco and Ferrero Rocher chocolates from Tesco Didcot, various membership vouchers donated by Willowbrook and a £20 Zoddys Tattoo voucher, to a £10 Next giftcard.
Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire will both benefit from a share each of the £383.57 raised!
With huge thanks to our friends at the leisure centre, part of Soll Leisure, for running this great event and for their support in choosing to help us with our fundraising objectives. The team at the centre are now planning to organise more events and get involved in various other fundraisers to support Play2Give next year. The fundraising organisation has donated over £44,000 since 2007 to numerous local charities, with its main supported charity being the Children's Hospital after Andrew was treated there.
Fundraisers got in a spin at Willowbrook Leisure Centre with a fun 6-hour endurance Spinathon challenge raising funds for local charities through supporting Play2Give's fundraising objectives.
The event, Superhero themed, was great fun and saw around 35 participants take part in six 6-hour sessions throughout the day, which even saw the likes of Batwoman, Spiderman, evil Spiderman, Superwoman and Batman's best friend, Robin (alias Andrew Baker), take part too adding to the hilarity!
The leisure centre in Didcot, on Bowmont Water, chose to donate all proceeds raised to Play2Give - a local fundraising organisation set up by the town's Andrew Baker, 27, in 2007. The event which was a success raised £383.57 - and proceeds also came from a cakes sale and raffle, with cakes from doughnuts to cupcakes donated by Tesco and Sainsbury's, both in the town.
Raffle prizes came in the form of two giftcards donated by The Entertainer toy shop in the Orchard Centre, a bottle of prosecco and Ferrero Rocher chocolates from Tesco Didcot, various membership vouchers donated by Willowbrook and a £20 Zoddys Tattoo voucher, to a £10 Next giftcard.
Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire will both benefit from a share each of the £383.57 raised!
With huge thanks to our friends at the leisure centre, part of Soll Leisure, for running this great event and for their support in choosing to help us with our fundraising objectives. The team at the centre are now planning to organise more events and get involved in various other fundraisers to support Play2Give next year. The fundraising organisation has donated over £44,000 since 2007 to numerous local charities, with its main supported charity being the Children's Hospital after Andrew was treated there.
Charity Spinathon at Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot, to raise money for Play2Give - 28 August 2015
Willowbrook Leisure Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, has announced that it is hosting a Charity Spinathon on Saturday 19th September to raise money for local charity group, Play2Give.
The centre is operated by charitable leisure management company Soll Leisure, and all of the community are invited get active to help raise money for a great cause.
The spin sessions will start at 09:30am and run until 3:30pm, consisting of 6 hour blocks of spinning. Participants can pay for individual sessions at £5 or for all 6 at £25, with all proceeds going to charity. There will also be a raffle, face paints, cake sale and bouncy castle providing something for everyone in the local community.
Play2Give is a local volunteer-run fundraising organisation based in Oxfordshire raising funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew Baker of Didcot setup Play2Give in 2007 and he is delighted to see another event taking place supporting his organisation, "we are all really excited about the Spinathon, and it will be great to see everyone come together to support local charities. Play2Give would like to thank everyone who comes along and takes part in the Spinathon and of course to Willowbrook for their fantastic support".
Community Development Manager for Soll Leisure, Richard Claydon, commented "It is great that Soll Leisure can support local charities through events like the Spinathon, we hope that lots of people join us to get active and raise money to support local charities."
If you are interested in booking a space on the Spinathon or have any questions you can contact Willowbrook Leisure Centre on 01235 812058. If you would like more information about how Soll Leisure can help with specific group projects to improve fitness levels you can contact the Community Development Manager on 01235 861289.
Related Links:
The centre is operated by charitable leisure management company Soll Leisure, and all of the community are invited get active to help raise money for a great cause.
The spin sessions will start at 09:30am and run until 3:30pm, consisting of 6 hour blocks of spinning. Participants can pay for individual sessions at £5 or for all 6 at £25, with all proceeds going to charity. There will also be a raffle, face paints, cake sale and bouncy castle providing something for everyone in the local community.
Play2Give is a local volunteer-run fundraising organisation based in Oxfordshire raising funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew Baker of Didcot setup Play2Give in 2007 and he is delighted to see another event taking place supporting his organisation, "we are all really excited about the Spinathon, and it will be great to see everyone come together to support local charities. Play2Give would like to thank everyone who comes along and takes part in the Spinathon and of course to Willowbrook for their fantastic support".
Community Development Manager for Soll Leisure, Richard Claydon, commented "It is great that Soll Leisure can support local charities through events like the Spinathon, we hope that lots of people join us to get active and raise money to support local charities."
If you are interested in booking a space on the Spinathon or have any questions you can contact Willowbrook Leisure Centre on 01235 812058. If you would like more information about how Soll Leisure can help with specific group projects to improve fitness levels you can contact the Community Development Manager on 01235 861289.
Related Links:
PRESS RELEASE: Supermarket staff razors up for a bald in one charity effort on Saturday
For release: 9 April 2015
There is some hairy fundraising set to go on at Didcot's Sainsbury's on Saturday with a charity head shaving day - all in support of Play2Give.
Some of the store's colleagues will be having heads - and even beards and eyebrows (if they wish) - shaved to raise funds for Play2Give through sponsorship and donations from customers into the buckets with customers even able to join in and be scalped spontaneously.
Two of the store's counter assistants including Luke Norris, 20, will be the victims Uncle Fester style and will be sheared by store staff - with help from our Andrew Baker too - in butchering their hair!
The store supports Play2Give as their local charity partner of the year after choosing to support the fundraising organisation through a year's worth of fundraising and awareness last July . And, so far the store, (as reported below earlier this month), has raised a record £3,000 over the last few months.
Andrew from Didcot founded Play2Give in September 2007 after being inspired following treatment he received throughout childhood at the Oxford hospitals following on from treatment at birth for a brain injury to major brain surgery in 2001 at the age of 12 to various other medical problems. He first began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2003 aged 14 as a pupil at Didcot's St Birinus School. Both Andrew and the school's name sits on a glass plaque of recognition in the Atrium of the Children's Hospital, for all those donors who raised over £5,000+ throughout the hospital's £15m building appeal. St Birinus alone was top of the schools when it came to raising funds with the school - thanks to Andrew's co-ordination - raising over £11,000 over five years.
Play2Give fundraises for local charities and has raised over £33,150 since 2007 with over £26,700 of this donated to the Children's Hospital.
The store hopes to add to the £3k total already raised through staff and customers efforts and involvement through this bald idea which, if the weather on Saturday is nice and dry as of recent days, the shaves will take place jut outside the front of the store.
There is some hairy fundraising set to go on at Didcot's Sainsbury's on Saturday with a charity head shaving day - all in support of Play2Give.
Some of the store's colleagues will be having heads - and even beards and eyebrows (if they wish) - shaved to raise funds for Play2Give through sponsorship and donations from customers into the buckets with customers even able to join in and be scalped spontaneously.
Two of the store's counter assistants including Luke Norris, 20, will be the victims Uncle Fester style and will be sheared by store staff - with help from our Andrew Baker too - in butchering their hair!
The store supports Play2Give as their local charity partner of the year after choosing to support the fundraising organisation through a year's worth of fundraising and awareness last July . And, so far the store, (as reported below earlier this month), has raised a record £3,000 over the last few months.
Andrew from Didcot founded Play2Give in September 2007 after being inspired following treatment he received throughout childhood at the Oxford hospitals following on from treatment at birth for a brain injury to major brain surgery in 2001 at the age of 12 to various other medical problems. He first began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2003 aged 14 as a pupil at Didcot's St Birinus School. Both Andrew and the school's name sits on a glass plaque of recognition in the Atrium of the Children's Hospital, for all those donors who raised over £5,000+ throughout the hospital's £15m building appeal. St Birinus alone was top of the schools when it came to raising funds with the school - thanks to Andrew's co-ordination - raising over £11,000 over five years.
Play2Give fundraises for local charities and has raised over £33,150 since 2007 with over £26,700 of this donated to the Children's Hospital.
The store hopes to add to the £3k total already raised through staff and customers efforts and involvement through this bald idea which, if the weather on Saturday is nice and dry as of recent days, the shaves will take place jut outside the front of the store.
PRESS RELEASE: Personal Trainer with Eye Disorder Takes on a 'Monster' of a Run for Charity - 16 March 2015
A personal trainer with an eye disorder is in training to limber up for a mighty run with a difference as he prepares to take on the Monster Race at Cornbury Park on April 18.
Tom Shaw, left, a Personal Trainer who runs TS Fitness Oxfordshire, has rallied four of his ‘friends and clients’ to take on this exhilarating 5km course to raise funds for a cause close to Tom’s heart - Play2Give - to help children going through similar conditions like himself.
Tom who is also Fitness Manager at the Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot, and also trains clients at The Park Club, Milton Park, feels he owes a value of life and a debt of gratitude to the eye medics that have literally transformed his life. Tom suffers from a rare eye condition known as Keratoconus, and has also experienced the invaluable work of the medics at the John Radcliffe Hospital as his younger brother also suffers from various medical conditions.
Along with Andy Morley, Jonny Simmonds, Ryan Evans and Punit Mistry, all four will be supporting Play2Give - which is a fundraising organisation set up by Andrew Baker, 26, from Didcot. The money raised for Play2Give will be donated to Oxford Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire.
On preparing for the race, Tom says: “Being motivated for the Monster Race wasn’t hard. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with an eye condition called Keratoconus. This condition basically makes my normal vision extremely blurred as the cornea has misshapened from its usual shape to more of a cone. This condition has changed my life and will never get better. I regularly visit the Oxford Eye hospital and I see the children that have similar or worse eye conditions than myself. Seeing first hand, upon visits the tests and treatments they have to go through at such a small age, when I found out Play2Give supports the Paediatric Eye Fund at the hospital getting involved in such an exhilarating challenge was a no brainer for me.”
“As a personal trainer it is hard living with my condition but I always want to get on with my life and be active and try and achieve as much as I can. I suppose I always got this mentality from my little brother who has a form of cerebral palsy as well as other medical conditions including epilepsy. He’s four years younger than me and my whole life I have watched him fight for the most basic of things that we all take for granted such as walking and talking. His determination has got him through life and he is a much more able young adult.”
Part of a 11-strong ‘Play2Give’ team the fantastic five are hoping to raise up to £500 in their sponsorship, and as well as donations through buckets at both centres, they are hoping to reach the target through sponsored leg waxes and for Tom a ‘kettlebell’ challenge. For every £1 donated Tom will complete a 1 kettle bell swing, 350 swung in total if the target is achieved!
“The Monster Run is going to be hard but as a personal trainer I should be able to handle the physical side. On the day I’m going to be there for my clients that are doing the race with me. They have various physical abilities but all are doing the race for personal gain and to have a good laugh at the same time!" adds Tom.
Tom added: “I’m a proud trainer for the way they have trained to prep for the race. Hopefully we will raise our target and make a difference to a local cause at the same time that does such excellent work in the form of a fellow member Andrew Baker who himself has come through tough times in life from a brain injury and surgery, but, who I see regularly get back into good shape through training at the gym."
The team are joined by Craig Harris, 33, from Bicester, David Reilly, from Hampshire (an ITV Meridian journalist), Paul Lyford, 26, and Antony Shorter, 25, both of Abingdon - all four of which are friends of Andrew Baker, along with Sara Dixon, who runs the Angels Performing Stage School Didcot, and several employees of Sainsbury's Didcot also planning to take on the gauntlet.
It is hoped the team in total could raise up to £1,000 between them. The entire ‘Play2Givers’ team can be sponsored here
Play2Give has donated over £33,100 since 2007, and over £26,700 of this for the Children’s Hospital. Play2Give are now aiming towards raising a £40,000 target to sponsor the naming of its very own room within the hospital and the group are well over halfway towards this goal. Andrew founded Play2Give after being inspired following treatment from birth throughout childhood for various medical interventions after suffering a brain injury upon birth, head injury aged 8 and major brain surgery aged 12 in 2001. Andrew with the help of supporters, friends and schools, has raised over £48,000 for charities with over £41k of this for the Children's Hospital over the last 12 years. More information about Play2Give at www.play2give.org.uk.
Tom Shaw, left, a Personal Trainer who runs TS Fitness Oxfordshire, has rallied four of his ‘friends and clients’ to take on this exhilarating 5km course to raise funds for a cause close to Tom’s heart - Play2Give - to help children going through similar conditions like himself.
Tom who is also Fitness Manager at the Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot, and also trains clients at The Park Club, Milton Park, feels he owes a value of life and a debt of gratitude to the eye medics that have literally transformed his life. Tom suffers from a rare eye condition known as Keratoconus, and has also experienced the invaluable work of the medics at the John Radcliffe Hospital as his younger brother also suffers from various medical conditions.
Along with Andy Morley, Jonny Simmonds, Ryan Evans and Punit Mistry, all four will be supporting Play2Give - which is a fundraising organisation set up by Andrew Baker, 26, from Didcot. The money raised for Play2Give will be donated to Oxford Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire.
On preparing for the race, Tom says: “Being motivated for the Monster Race wasn’t hard. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with an eye condition called Keratoconus. This condition basically makes my normal vision extremely blurred as the cornea has misshapened from its usual shape to more of a cone. This condition has changed my life and will never get better. I regularly visit the Oxford Eye hospital and I see the children that have similar or worse eye conditions than myself. Seeing first hand, upon visits the tests and treatments they have to go through at such a small age, when I found out Play2Give supports the Paediatric Eye Fund at the hospital getting involved in such an exhilarating challenge was a no brainer for me.”
“As a personal trainer it is hard living with my condition but I always want to get on with my life and be active and try and achieve as much as I can. I suppose I always got this mentality from my little brother who has a form of cerebral palsy as well as other medical conditions including epilepsy. He’s four years younger than me and my whole life I have watched him fight for the most basic of things that we all take for granted such as walking and talking. His determination has got him through life and he is a much more able young adult.”
Part of a 11-strong ‘Play2Give’ team the fantastic five are hoping to raise up to £500 in their sponsorship, and as well as donations through buckets at both centres, they are hoping to reach the target through sponsored leg waxes and for Tom a ‘kettlebell’ challenge. For every £1 donated Tom will complete a 1 kettle bell swing, 350 swung in total if the target is achieved!
“The Monster Run is going to be hard but as a personal trainer I should be able to handle the physical side. On the day I’m going to be there for my clients that are doing the race with me. They have various physical abilities but all are doing the race for personal gain and to have a good laugh at the same time!" adds Tom.
Tom added: “I’m a proud trainer for the way they have trained to prep for the race. Hopefully we will raise our target and make a difference to a local cause at the same time that does such excellent work in the form of a fellow member Andrew Baker who himself has come through tough times in life from a brain injury and surgery, but, who I see regularly get back into good shape through training at the gym."
The team are joined by Craig Harris, 33, from Bicester, David Reilly, from Hampshire (an ITV Meridian journalist), Paul Lyford, 26, and Antony Shorter, 25, both of Abingdon - all four of which are friends of Andrew Baker, along with Sara Dixon, who runs the Angels Performing Stage School Didcot, and several employees of Sainsbury's Didcot also planning to take on the gauntlet.
It is hoped the team in total could raise up to £1,000 between them. The entire ‘Play2Givers’ team can be sponsored here
Play2Give has donated over £33,100 since 2007, and over £26,700 of this for the Children’s Hospital. Play2Give are now aiming towards raising a £40,000 target to sponsor the naming of its very own room within the hospital and the group are well over halfway towards this goal. Andrew founded Play2Give after being inspired following treatment from birth throughout childhood for various medical interventions after suffering a brain injury upon birth, head injury aged 8 and major brain surgery aged 12 in 2001. Andrew with the help of supporters, friends and schools, has raised over £48,000 for charities with over £41k of this for the Children's Hospital over the last 12 years. More information about Play2Give at www.play2give.org.uk.
PRESS RELEASE: Sainsbury's Strolling and Striding Along for Charity with Help from Spiderman - 27 January 2015
Staff at the Didcot supermarket Sainsbury's will be showing that they really do make a difference locally by strolling and striding along through the countryside in aid of charity.
On Sunday, February 1st a large group of workers from the store along with supporters from the Didcot community at large will be taking part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for local charities through the Play2Give fundraising campaign.
The store in the Orchard Centre chose Play2Give as their local fundraising partner of the year last July and so far has raised around £1,500 through a wide variety of fundraising activities, and it is hoped the very first Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll Supporting Play2Give will raise a few hundreds of pounds.
Play2Give is a fundraising organisation which raises funds through organising events and projects for Oxford Childrens Hospital, the local brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund, all of which benefits through the year of fundraising support that the store has committed to a years worth of fundraising and awareness to.
The stroll, a 6-miler, starts and finishes at the supermarket through to Upton and back, with a pub pit stop at The George and Dragon in Upton, before the walk back. The group of strollers including Play2Give's Andrew Baker, will set off from outside the store at 12.30pm.
Even the greatest hero of them all, Spiderman, will be giving a helping hand inspiring the pack along their way. This will be Andrew himself who will be dressed as the infamous web-slinging character to raise extra laughs and funds along the way from hopeful passers-by, with Andrew also having his hair dyed especially for the walk, after taking on a challenge set to him by the stores workers where if he raises £200 in sponsorship himself his hair becomes just as colourful as Spiderman.
Andrew from Didcot set up Play2Give in September, 2007, with a small team of friends and since its inception the fundraising group has gone on to raise over £32,000 for local charities to date, with over £26,500 of this for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Even a couple of the supermarket workers donning shorts for sure as fancy dress attire, and possibly even a minion and Batman might make appearances.
Various members of the public including the Didcot community, and even some supporters from Oxford, as well as walkers friends and families, and even dogs, will be joining in the fun, where an array of other fancy dress delights will be seen.
Every walker is encouraged to raise £20 minimum sponsorship to aid the charities.
For more information, see play2give.org.uk or speak to Andrew Baker, Play2Give co-ordinator, on 07939064308 / Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador at the store, who are organising the walk, on prl.didcot@sainsburys.co.uk or 01235 814159 to arrange media interviews and/or photography.
On Sunday, February 1st a large group of workers from the store along with supporters from the Didcot community at large will be taking part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for local charities through the Play2Give fundraising campaign.
The store in the Orchard Centre chose Play2Give as their local fundraising partner of the year last July and so far has raised around £1,500 through a wide variety of fundraising activities, and it is hoped the very first Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll Supporting Play2Give will raise a few hundreds of pounds.
Play2Give is a fundraising organisation which raises funds through organising events and projects for Oxford Childrens Hospital, the local brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund, all of which benefits through the year of fundraising support that the store has committed to a years worth of fundraising and awareness to.
The stroll, a 6-miler, starts and finishes at the supermarket through to Upton and back, with a pub pit stop at The George and Dragon in Upton, before the walk back. The group of strollers including Play2Give's Andrew Baker, will set off from outside the store at 12.30pm.
Even the greatest hero of them all, Spiderman, will be giving a helping hand inspiring the pack along their way. This will be Andrew himself who will be dressed as the infamous web-slinging character to raise extra laughs and funds along the way from hopeful passers-by, with Andrew also having his hair dyed especially for the walk, after taking on a challenge set to him by the stores workers where if he raises £200 in sponsorship himself his hair becomes just as colourful as Spiderman.
Andrew from Didcot set up Play2Give in September, 2007, with a small team of friends and since its inception the fundraising group has gone on to raise over £32,000 for local charities to date, with over £26,500 of this for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Even a couple of the supermarket workers donning shorts for sure as fancy dress attire, and possibly even a minion and Batman might make appearances.
Various members of the public including the Didcot community, and even some supporters from Oxford, as well as walkers friends and families, and even dogs, will be joining in the fun, where an array of other fancy dress delights will be seen.
Every walker is encouraged to raise £20 minimum sponsorship to aid the charities.
For more information, see play2give.org.uk or speak to Andrew Baker, Play2Give co-ordinator, on 07939064308 / Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador at the store, who are organising the walk, on prl.didcot@sainsburys.co.uk or 01235 814159 to arrange media interviews and/or photography.
PRESS RELEASE: Play2Give Raises Record Breaking Amount for Charities - 27 November 2014
Play2Give, set up by Didcot’s Andrew Baker in 2007, has seen 2014’s fundraising endeavours the group have organised, and the help of supporters who have taken part in their own challenges, break all records in terms of money raised than ever in its 7-year history - a grand £9,838.81!
On Tuesday (December 2nd) at 4.30pm, Play2Give’s volunteers Andrew, along with friends and fellow organisers Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs, will be visiting the Oxford Children’s Hospital bringing early Christmas cheer to the young patients in the way of the huge cheque totalling £8,590.29, and maybe a beary special visitor too - Barry Bear, the furry life-sized mascot of Newbury Building Society!
July’s football tournament alone raised £7,209 for hospital funds! Play2Give are now naming a room on Melanie’s Ward of the hospital at a £40,000 fundraising goal, and the group are already halfway in this special lifelong commitment with over £26.5k raised towards the hospital.
Andrew, a volunteer at the JR, began fundraising aged 14 in 2003 for the Children’s Hospital with the help and support of school friends and teachers at St Birinus in Didcot, and then the Didcot Girls’ School and sixth formers, before embarking on P2G in late 2007. Andrew has been repaying the Oxford hospital after being treated for a multitude of medical problems after suffering a brain injury at birth, which resulted in various medical interventions. Most notably the major brain surgery he endured aged 12 in 2001, at the Radcliffe Infirmary being the ‘inspiration’ behind his debt of gratitude back.
In February 2013, he was awarded the ‘Inspirational Entrepreneur’ Award at the Oxfordshire Youth Awards, and last month he was named winner of the Oxfordshire region in the Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Reading.
A fellow organiser and joint co-ordinator, Dale Harris, is involved with Andrew for Dale’s daughter, Mya Harris, has been a patient at CHOX since 2002 after she was born with spina bifida. Dale works at Elmer Cotton sports shop in the city centre, and also runs his own youth football team. Teresa and Elaine help run the football tournaments.
An army of other helpers and friends also get involved with Andrew, such as Ross Downes, who works at the Eye Hospital and is a volunteer organiser of the Paediatric Eye Fund, (a small charity set up by CK Patel, Consultant Eye Surgeon) in early 2013, by helping organise the fundraising evenings.
Ross will also be presented with a huge cheque totalling £1,101.71 to the Paediatric Eye Fund through the Play2Give group’s fundraising endeavours this year.
Play2Give was born with a football tournament, and since then a whole host of other endeavours and initiatives have been mustered.
Today, the fundraising organisation has grown and grown into a successful institution and the football fun days alone have become well renowned across the county. 2014’s day in July saw 18 boys teams take part, including Barton United U10s who will be receiving a special cup at Tuesday’s grand presentation for the team raising the most amount of sponsorship of any of the teams at this year’s tournament.
Play2Give has raised over £32,0277 in total over the last 7 years, with Andrew and his army of thousands of fundraising friends efforts over near 12 years having reached £41,362 for the Children’s Hospital. Andrew’s grand total for charities now stands at £46,877.58!
2014 Play2Give highlights
On Tuesday (December 2nd) at 4.30pm, Play2Give’s volunteers Andrew, along with friends and fellow organisers Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs, will be visiting the Oxford Children’s Hospital bringing early Christmas cheer to the young patients in the way of the huge cheque totalling £8,590.29, and maybe a beary special visitor too - Barry Bear, the furry life-sized mascot of Newbury Building Society!
July’s football tournament alone raised £7,209 for hospital funds! Play2Give are now naming a room on Melanie’s Ward of the hospital at a £40,000 fundraising goal, and the group are already halfway in this special lifelong commitment with over £26.5k raised towards the hospital.
Andrew, a volunteer at the JR, began fundraising aged 14 in 2003 for the Children’s Hospital with the help and support of school friends and teachers at St Birinus in Didcot, and then the Didcot Girls’ School and sixth formers, before embarking on P2G in late 2007. Andrew has been repaying the Oxford hospital after being treated for a multitude of medical problems after suffering a brain injury at birth, which resulted in various medical interventions. Most notably the major brain surgery he endured aged 12 in 2001, at the Radcliffe Infirmary being the ‘inspiration’ behind his debt of gratitude back.
In February 2013, he was awarded the ‘Inspirational Entrepreneur’ Award at the Oxfordshire Youth Awards, and last month he was named winner of the Oxfordshire region in the Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Reading.
A fellow organiser and joint co-ordinator, Dale Harris, is involved with Andrew for Dale’s daughter, Mya Harris, has been a patient at CHOX since 2002 after she was born with spina bifida. Dale works at Elmer Cotton sports shop in the city centre, and also runs his own youth football team. Teresa and Elaine help run the football tournaments.
An army of other helpers and friends also get involved with Andrew, such as Ross Downes, who works at the Eye Hospital and is a volunteer organiser of the Paediatric Eye Fund, (a small charity set up by CK Patel, Consultant Eye Surgeon) in early 2013, by helping organise the fundraising evenings.
Ross will also be presented with a huge cheque totalling £1,101.71 to the Paediatric Eye Fund through the Play2Give group’s fundraising endeavours this year.
Play2Give was born with a football tournament, and since then a whole host of other endeavours and initiatives have been mustered.
Today, the fundraising organisation has grown and grown into a successful institution and the football fun days alone have become well renowned across the county. 2014’s day in July saw 18 boys teams take part, including Barton United U10s who will be receiving a special cup at Tuesday’s grand presentation for the team raising the most amount of sponsorship of any of the teams at this year’s tournament.
Play2Give has raised over £32,0277 in total over the last 7 years, with Andrew and his army of thousands of fundraising friends efforts over near 12 years having reached £41,362 for the Children’s Hospital. Andrew’s grand total for charities now stands at £46,877.58!
2014 Play2Give highlights
- The annual children’s football tournament, in July 2014, at Oxford City Football Club saw the most amount of funds raised in the football tournament’s history - £7,209 for the Children’s Hospital.
- A fundraising party, held in February 2014 with the support of Didcot Rugby Club, saw Play2Give’s 2014 fundraising kick started, raising a record £1,814 - shared between the Children’s Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund of the John Radcliffe. Andrew celebrated a decade of fundraising, which he achieved in early 2013, by having his head shaved on the night - and added an extra £700 into charity funds.
- Sainsbury’s Didcot adopted Play2Give as their ‘Fundraising Partner of the Year’ in July, 2014, after nominations from customers, and a calendar of activities and events have been planned until summer 2015.
- A team of 6 took on the annual OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace in March, which helped the run with near 1,500 competitors raise a record £114,000 for the hospital.
- Supporters Matthew Hambridge, of Witney, and Lee Crook, nightshift worker at Sainsbury’s Didcot, have both taken on ‘Movember’ in November supporting Play2Give sporting mo's and between them have raised near on £270 between them
- Tesco Didcot held a sponsored slim-a-thon between store staff in January as well as buying Play2Give wristbands.
- The Park Club on Milton Park have also recently joined the bandwagon, by selling wristbands at reception and a group of Personal Trainers at the gym are taking on ‘Decembeard’ next month raising money by sprouting the most bushiest of beards throughout the festive month
- The 9th Oxfordshire Sports Awards, organised by the Oxfordshire Sport Partnership and held at Kassam Stadium, on November 28th, are also supporting Play2Give through a raffle and table collections.
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