Barnsley FC use FA Community cash to help support local charity.
The FA Community Shield raises hundreds of thousands of pounds every year, distributed to community-based initiatives and charities up and down the country.
The funds are raised through a combination of tickets sales and match programmes and the 124 clubs who competed in The FA Cup from the First Round onwards received £2,000 to donate to local charities or community-based projects of their choice.
Reds director Barry Taylor explained today why Barnsley FC decided to give the money to Briony’s Gift.
He told barnsleyfc.co.uk: “Every year we try to find the smallest local charity, one we feel would benefit the most from such a donation and as a Club we are delighted to hand over the £2,000 to Briony’s Gift.
“Despite losing their own child in what must have been heart-breaking circumstances for them, the parents set up a charity in their daughter’s honour to help other families who would be having to cope with the same pain and stresses.
“We at the Club cannot speak highly enough of the work they do and we can only hope this money gives their efforts the boost required. I would personally urge Reds supporters to help these wonderful people where they can.”
We were over the moon to invite Briony’s parents, Meayla and Darron Woodward with their volunteers and family to Oakwell this afternoon to present them with the cheque.
Meayla gave us her reaction to the donation, telling us: “My little girl Briony died when she was just three-years-old. She had neuroblastoma for two of those years. We decided to use our spare time afterwards to help others going through the same sort of circumstance. It's been 10 years this year since we lost her and we know what it feels like to miss and long for your child.
“We run a charity shop which with our volunteers we work very hard to keep that service available. We do various fun days and events, we are a very hands-on charity.
“The way that we support children is by buying them gifts, we work with social worker’s and we try to grant wishes for the poorly child. Last year we sent a family on a camper van holiday. We do as much as we can with what we have available but a main goal for us is also to raise awareness.
“We have never received a donation as big as this and we are humbled by it. Many thanks to the lovely people involved at the Club who’ve made this happen for us, the money will go a long way.”
You can visit Briony’s Gift’s Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.
They also have a Just Giving page which is HERE.
Alternatively you can call Meayla on 07704415010.
