Professional Cricketers turn to Friends - 01/06/11

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) are delighted to announce that Friends Life is to become lead sponsor of the PCA Benevolent Fund (Charity No: 1120088).

Following a four year existing relationship with the PCA, Friends Life will this year strengthen its commitment to the well-being of past, present and future cricketers by offering both an array of support services and a financial donation to the PCA benevolent fund.

As part of Friends Life's commitment to the PCA Benevolent Fund, the company has agreed to donate £100 to the charity for every 'six' that is hit during the Sky Sports televised games throughout the competition.

David Graveney, Chief Executive of the PCA Benevolent Fund, said:

"The Benevolent Fund does great work to support players, ex-players and their families with medical, financial and other problems. Friends Life's support will allow us to support more deserving cases, and we are immensely grateful."

David Ford, Chairman of the PCA Benevolent Fund Board of Trustees added:

"This is great news for all those cricketers, past and present, who are receiving help from the Benevolent Fund, or may need to call on it in the future. Friends Life have been great supporters of English cricket for a number of years, and it is tremendous for us that as well as investing in the sponsorship of the Friends Life t20 competition they are prepared to offer financial assistance and practical help to cricketers who have fallen on hard times"

Trevor Matthews, Chief Executive Officer Friends Life, said:

"At Friends Life we are passionate about looking after our five million customers. In today's challenging economic environment savers in the UK have to navigate much financial uncertainty and cricketers are no exception. Through our association with the PCA Benevolent Fund we can help alleviate some of that financial worry and provide guiding hand through our financial education services. Both the shortened career span and hectic lifestyle of professional cricketers can often mean long-term financial planning falls by the way-side but we hope to address this through our new relationship."

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For further information please contact Angus Porter (07584 262083) or Jason Ratcliffe (07768 558050)