In loving memory of Angela Norris

Angela & Play2Give

In November 2020, Play2Give lost a much-loved and dedicated supporter, Angela Norris, who was very passionate about our work.

Angela supported us in so many ways until her death aged 65, and even volunteered her time to help in part.

Angela sadly died after complications from bronchopneumonia following a short fight against terminal lung cancer, diagnosed in July 2020. Angela will forever be in the heart of Play2Give, as we were her favourite charity close to her heart. We was honoured to have been her family’s chosen beneficiary in lieu of flowers with a collection at her funeral service in her honour.

The collection at Angela’s service in November 2020 raised £300 from donations made, which went towards our ongoing fundraising for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, which has been our long-term supported beneficiary since we was founded in 2007.

The money will make a massive difference and a long lasting impact to the lives of poorly children, their families and the incredible staff who work there, including the funding of cutting edge and specialist medical and diagnostic equipment.

Angela’s support for Sleigh2Give

Angela visited the Oxford Children’s Hospital in December 2018 as part of our annual “Sleigh2Give” Christmas toy drop, and was inspired to meet so many of the courageously brave youngsters who were battling many illnesses including those with cancer. It was a wish of Angela to visit the Children’s Hospital before she ever passed on.

Angela over many years helped to store gifts at her house, helped to ticket up prizes, helped with preparing buffets for fundraising parties and donated vast amounts towards our organisation through the purchase of raffle tickets.

Angela’s contributions to our fundraising

She also took part with her spare cash on our tombolas, buying toys for children in the hospital, brought items and donated funds, and she always attended our bi weekly quiz nights at Boundary Park in Didcot throughout 2018.

In the summer of 2016 she even donated £100 out of her savings which went towards our £40,000 sponsored patient room on the teenage ward at the Children’s Hospital, which was formally unveiled and the ribbon to the room cut by Andy in March 2017.

Angela’s strong connection to Play2Give

Angela was the mother of Matthew Norris, who is one of our trustees and was seen as a second mother to our Founder, Andy. She was also a best friend to Andy’s mother Ann.

Fundraising in her memory from late 2020 and into 2021 has gone towards Sobell House Hospice along with cancer related causes such as the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and, in some aspects too, the Children’s Hospital, SSNAP and for the difference they made to Andy Oxford Head Injury Services , all as causes that she championed through our charity. So far in her memory since Nov 2020 we have raised over £7,102 for these causes.

With our fundraising for Sobell House there has been a plaque on the memory tree in Angela’s name.

The Angela Norris Volunteering Award

Angela will forever live in our hearts and will always be a huge part of the life and history of P2G. So much so, that our Balls with its funds raised are now held in her memory, and we initiated The Play2Give Angela Norris Volunteering Award awarded to one outstanding volunteer or supporter who go above and beyond for the charity. We presented this award for the first time at our gala ball in 2022, and we know that Angela would of loved the sentimental tribute.

The first winners of this special award in Angela’s name was David and Linda Latter, who had dedicated many years to volunteering for our charity, and was presented at our Hollywood gala ball in March 2022 (picture below). This year’s recipient was Leanne Coates, and was announced at our 2023 Great Gatsby Ball.

We know that she will continue to be very proud of all that Andy and we continue to achieve and the immense number of those we help going forward. We know that she would have been extremely proud, excited and full of pride and joy with the news of Andy’s MBE in the New Year’s Honours 2021, had she lived to hear the news.