Month: February 2021

Three-time World Snooker Champion Mark Selby has potted a £4,500 boost for Leicester Hospitals Charity’s efforts to support staff on Covid wards at Leicester’s Hospitals after organising a star-studded charity raffle.

The Leicester-based snooker champion teamed up with brother-in-law and fellow professional player Gareth Potts to raise money in support of his local hospitals facing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. The unique raffle, featured prizes gifted by some of sport’s biggest names – including Jamie Vardy, Tyson Fury and golfer Andy Sullivan –raised £4,500 for Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Covid-19 Response Fund which provides additional resources for staff at Leicester’s Hospitals on the front lines against the coronavirus.

The 2014, 2016 and 2017 world champion says he and Gareth Potts were inspired to bring the cue sports community together to support their local hospitals after seeing the powerful images of NHS staff fighting the full effects of the pandemic.

“Watching the news everyday like everyone else, seeing the shots of the hospital wards and the staff wearing all their protective equipment, putting themselves at risk on the front lines and other fundraisers like Captain Sir Tom Moore, I said to Gareth ‘there’s no reason why we couldn’t do something to help’,” says Selby.

“We got our heads together and decided to something. We went through our phonebooks and spoke to anyone we could think of – celebrities, sporting icons – to try and get some signed memorabilia and items from them for a charity raffle.”

The response to the call for support went far beyond what the pair expected, says Selby.

“We got some fantastic prizes. We got a signed picture from the Kasabian boys. Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy gave us a pair of signed football boots. Artist Damien Hurst – who’s a big snooker fan – donated a book of hand-drawn artwork, which is something he never, ever does. So we thought it was the best way we could raise as much money as possible.”

The resulting charity raffle saw hundreds of cue sport fans enter for a chance to one of these desirable pieces of sporting memorabilia. “In the end we raised £4,300, which is definitely a lot better than nothing,” says Selby.

“The cue sports community is very tightknit. With all the touring, we’re kind of like a family. It was a great chance for us to do something positive ourselves and give something back to the hospitals for everything they do.”

The funds raised are being used to help support staff treating patients for Covid-19 across all three of Leicester’s Hospitals, specifically to help stock wellbeing rooms – temporary break areas where staff can escape to gather themselves and have a moment of respite from the pressures of working on the Covid wards.

“I can imagine it can be really stressful for the staff, so having the chance to escape somewhere, make a cup of coffee or whatever and take some time away before they have to go back to the front lines might really help before they have to face it again,” explains Selby.

“If they don’t have that kind of space, by the time they’ve walked down to the canteen or wherever to get a coffee, their break is over by the time they get back and they haven’t even had that chance to regroup. So any little bit of money we can give to support them and put something towards helping the hospital staff like that and try and make their challenges that little bit easier is all positive.”

As one of Leicester’s most successful sports personalities, Selby is grateful to everyone who supported their fundraising and urges everyone to continue to be sensible and stay safe.

“I’d like to thank everyone who donated the prizes and everyone who entered and who donated money towards this fantastic cause,” he says.

“I’d urge everyone to look at what’s going on and see what the people in the NHS are putting themselves through to try and save lives and just take it onboard that this is serious. People need to stay in, stay safe and protect each other as much as possible.”

Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Head of Fundraising, Claire Campbell, thanks everyone involved for the achievement.

“On behalf of all our staff on the front lines right now, I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Mark and Gareth, the hundreds who entered into the raffle and donated and to all the sporting icons who donated items towards it,” says Claire.

“It means so much to us to have the support of Leicester’s only major sporting world champions. It can’t be overstated how much it means to the staff who are continue to fight against the effects of this awful pandemic, day in, day out, almost a year later.”

Anyone wanting to support the COVID-19 Response Fund can donate online at LHCharity.org.uk.

For more information or for any enquiries about how to help the charity’s efforts and hospital staff, email uhl-tr.lhcharitymailbox@nhs.net or call 0116 258 8709.