PCA PRESS RELEASE

England supporters raise over £36,000 for PCA Professional Cricketers' Trust during the Ashes.

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The Barmy Army have officially raised A$65,000 for the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust during the 2017/18 Ashes campaign.

The England supporters’ club’s fundraising was part of the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s Legacy Year Appeal which was set-up to raise money for the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust in the PCA’s 50th anniversary.

On the third day of every Ashes Test, the Barmy Army arranged events to raise funds for the charity which supports players – past and present – and their immediate family members in their hour of need. The charity helps with medical advice, funding for operations, care and assistance whilst being proactive on education initiatives on health and wellbeing matters.

The Barmy Army was formed during 1994/95 and has gone on to raise almost £300,000 for different charities including the Broad Appeal before supporting the players’ charity in the recent Ashes.

During the recent tour of Australia, ‘Barmies’ flocked to the fundraising events which saw former England players attend on behalf of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust to entertain guests and encourage donations.

Geoffrey Boycott, John Emburey, Paul Farbrace, Adam Hollioake, Isa Guha, Gladstone Small, Graeme Swann and Luke Wright all gave up their time to attend events over the winter in support of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.

England’s Ashes squad also supported the activities with signing items and donating items of kit with money being raised through ticketed events, auctions, raffles as well as match fees and fines the Barmy Army’s own T20 matches.

President of the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust David Graveney said:

“I would like to say a huge thanks to the Barmy Army for their extremely generous donation to the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust due to their outstanding fundraising efforts during the recent Ashes campaign.

“We owe a lot of gratitude to the Barmy Army and all the PCA members who took time out of their hectic schedules to support their charity, it is hugely appreciated.

“We could not continue to fulfil our duties in supporting past and present players who are in desperate need without kind donations so I would also like to thank every single England supporter in Australia who supported the players’ charity.”

Founder of the Barmy Army Paul Burnham said:

“We were really pleased to raise such a vast sum of money for the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust, a charity which is important for everyone within cricket as all money goes towards helping people who have given everything to entertain us over the years.

"It was a privilege to work with the PCA Professional Cricketers' Trust and I would like to say a huge thanks to all the speakers throughout the Ashes tour who entertained the crowds at the numerous events in Australia."

PAUL BURNHAM, BARMY ARMY FOUNDER

“We will definitely be raising more money for this amazing charity in the future.

“Such a figure could not be raised without a significant amount of work from the Barmy Army team, PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust and of course every single person who came to an event and donated so generously to the players’ charity.”