Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley fans raised almost £4,000 for Weston Park Cancer Charity when the Reds faced the Owls at Hillsborough recently.
The huge fundraising total was donated by generous match-going fans at a bucket collection, on the same day that the Owls joined the Together at Every Step partnership to team up with other local clubs – including Barnsley – to support Weston Park Cancer Charity.
The impressive total will help Weston Park Cancer Charity provide support, enhance treatment experiences and enable vital research, all to benefit people living with and beyond cancer in our region.
The total includes funds raised by Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday fans who teamed up to walk the distance from Oakwell to Hillsborough before the game, led by long-standing Weston Park Cancer Charity fundraiser, Carl Mellor.
Darren Hayes, Head of Fundraising at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of the Owls and Reds fans as part of this vital initiative.
“It’s wonderful to have Sheffield Wednesday on board the Together at Every Step partnership, which has brought football clubs from across South Yorkshire together to support people facing cancer regionally. The project has seen clubs put rivalries to one side to help us be there, together at every step, for the one in two people who will face a cancer diagnosis.
“I’d also like to say a huge thank you to our fantastic volunteers. We could not do what we do without them; they generously commit their time and energy to help us support more people in our region.”
Andrew Clark, Marketing Director at Barnsley FC, said: “We’re so pleased to hear how much was raised for Weston Park Cancer Charity before our game against Sheffield Wednesday recently.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of the Together at Every Step initiative and welcome the addition of Sheffield Wednesday to this unique project.
“Cancer affects so many people – one in two people will be diagnosed in their lifetimes – and we’ve been delighted to support Weston Park Cancer Charity for a number of years.
“Huge thanks to our fantastic fans for playing their part in raising this amazing total, including Carl Mellor and his fundraising heroes, who walked from Oakwell to Hillsborough before the game – raising more than £500!”
Marcus Brameld, Head of Community at Sheffield Wednesday FC, said: “We’re delighted to have joined the Together at Every Step partnership.
“It’s fantastic to see how much was raised by generous fans of both the Owls and Barnsley at Hillsborough recently – huge thanks to our wonderful fans for playing such a significant part in this.
“To raise almost £4,000 in one match is an impressive feat, and will make such a difference to the one in two people facing a cancer diagnosis in our region.”
Activities and initiatives will be taking part throughout the 2021/22 season as part of the Together at Every Step initiative, during the build-up to Barnsley vs Sheffield Wednesday at Oakwell on 28 January 2023.
