• Relf rallies cricket family around Trust appeal
    Press ReleaseMembersEventsProfessional Cricketers' Trust

    Relf rallies cricket family around Trust appeal

    By 10 June, 2020 No Comments
    PROFESSIONAL CRICKETERS' TRUST PRESS RELEASE

    Fundraiser seeks donations in memory of late husband Richard Davis.

    To see more articles, click here

    Sammy Relf has appealed to all former teammates of her late husband Richard ‘Dickie’ Davis, who appeared for no less than five first-class counties during a 15-year professional career, to donate to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust as part of the #charity10for10 campaign.

    Relf, who now works for the PCA to raise funds for the Trust, announced the target as she completed a 10km cycle and subsequently donated £10 to the cause on Wednesday morning.

    She has been handed a boost by ex-England international Matthew Fleming, who has pledged to match any donations made in former teammate and friend Davis’ memory up to a total of £500.

    GET INVOLVED

    Davis, who spent most of his playing career at Kent but also appeared for Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Leicestershire and minor county Berkshire, was diagnosed with a brain tumour within weeks of his final professional appearance in late 2001.

    He and then-wife Sammy received support from the Trust during the following years, before Davis tragically passed away in December 2003 at the age of just 37.

    With her new target, Relf is hoping to give back to the charity that lent its support to her and Davis when they needed it most.

    “When Richard was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001, one of the first calls I received was from Trust President David Graveney, and he just asked me if there was anything at all that we needed,” Relf recalls.

    "My personal experiences have made me feel very passionate about this cause, so I hope we can get a lot of people behind this and raise some good money.”

    SAMMY RELF

    “We received significant financial support from the charity, which was absolutely invaluable to us during what was a very difficult time. It has inspired me to do something more to help other people in the same way that I was helped – I work for the Trust so I see directly the great work that the charity does for so many people.

    “I am appealing to all of those who played with Richard at any of his five counties to donate in his memory – you don’t have to necessarily complete the challenge, just donate.

    “I would also personally like to thank Matthew Fleming for his very generous pledge which I’m sure will make a significant contribution to the fundraising effort.

    “My personal experiences have made me feel very passionate about this cause, so I hope we can get a lot of people behind this and raise some good money.”

    To have your #charity10for10 donation matched by Matthew Fleming, please comment “In memory of Richard Davis” alongside your donation on the appeal’s JustGiving page.

    GET INVOLVED

    Trust challenge raises £7,000 and counting

    In the space of just one week, the Trust has raised £7,901 and counting via the #charity10for10 challenge.

    Launched on 1st June, the initiative has brought together individuals from across the cricket family to lend their support to the charity which faces an annual shortfall of £250,000 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    England captains Eoin Morgan, Joe Root and Heather Knight are amongst those who have run, cycled or swum 10km before donating at least £10 to the Trust and nominating three more to do the same.

    All of the money raised will go directly towards the players’ charity, which funds life-changing assistance for PCA members and their immediate families when they need it most. Support offered by the Trust can range from emotional counselling to the provision of specialist medical equipment and beyond.

    A number of Trust beneficiaries have returned their support to the charity, with Dom Bess, Marcus Trescothick and Chris Wood all having completed the #charity10for10 already. Last week, ex-Glamorgan and Sussex man Keith Newell ran and cycled the distance with daughter Jessica, who suffers from a life-limiting form of Mitochondrial Disease.

    The biggest donation so far has come in from Richard Mully, who gave an incredible £1,000 (rising to £1,250 with Gift Aid) to the Trust, thanking the charity for its support of “terrific fellow and fine Sussex cricketer” Newell on the challenge’s JustGiving page. The #charity10for10 has also proved popular with current players, with 10 representatives from the PCA Players’ Committee, including Kate Cross (England Women), Rob Jones (Lancashire) and James Harris (Middlesex) having lent their support to the Trust so far.

    The challenge isn’t limited to professional cricketers past and present, with many from the media world and general public alike also getting involved.

    The Trust is also grateful for the ongoing support of the PCA’s commercial partners, who this year are unable to support the charity by attending fundraising events.

    Many more have taken to social media to spread the word online and increase support for the #charity10for10. Here are some of the best efforts from week one of the challenge:

    Marcus Trescothick

    Ian Thomas

    Sophie Ecclestone

    Tom Smith

    Alex Hartley

    Graham Gooch

    Sam Curran

    Martin Cropper

    Andrew Strauss

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Just completed the #charity10for10 for the @cricketerstrust. Thanks to @paulcollingwood5 for nominating me. I nominate @officialgraemeswann @mattprior13 @jimmya9. Link in my bio to donate… A post shared by Andrew Strauss (@andrewstrauss_official) on

    GET INVOLVED

    Find out more about the Professional Cricketers’ Trust