ALMOST £45,000 RAISED AT #FOOTBALLFAMILYDAY FOR SHAUN WHITER AND JOEY ABBS
Cambridge United are delighted to announce that last Sunday's #FootballFamilyDay raised just over £44,000 for Shaun Whiter and Joey Abbs.Over 1,600 people attended the Cambs Glass Stadium last Sunday as the local football community rallied together to show their support for Shaun and Joey.
Local clubs from across Cambridgeshire joined forces to help raise a fantastic amount of money on the day. Cambridge City lifted the trophy, provided by Cambridgeshire FA, at the end of the tournament which saw the Lilywhites triumph over Newmarket Town, Soham Town Rangers and Fulbourn Institute.
Last week Cambridge United announced that the auction, which included items sent from players across Europe, and some of the biggest clubs in this country, helped to raise £16,615 including £2,100 for a Lionel Messi signed Barcelona shirt and £1,600 a Gareth Bale signed Real Madrid shirt.
Meanwhile, Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company Mundipharma, for whom Joey is an employee, pledged to donate £3 for every seat sold prior to the event. However, since Sunday the Cambridge United sponsor have kindly offered to donate £8,400 to cover the entire capacity of the Mundipharma Community Stand.
Other donations included £1,118 on behalf of Cambridge Fans United following their collection for Shaun and Joey at the pre-season game between Cambridge United and Newmarket Town, as well as T-Shirts from Cambridge Independent Newspaper which were sold at the event and raised almost £600.
The Just Giving page, which received support on social media from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and a number of other Premier League clubs in the lead up to the #FootballFamilyDay raised £2,200.
Cambridge United CEO Jez George commented: "This is a fantastic demonstration of support from the entire local football family, not just on the day but at so many events over the last three months.
"This story, and the remarkable courage of Shaun and Joey, has touched everyone and has created such a groundswell of support. Our job was simply to harness it.
"They both have many challenges ahead but the support they have received financially and the solidarity shown by the world of football for two local footballers speaks volumes for them. It also shows the power for good that football can be.
"On behalf of Shaun and Joey, we thank everyone who supported this event in any way and we were humbled to have been able to help in a small way."
Read Shaun Whiter and Joey Abbs' heartfelt thank you by clicking here.