Walsall stars visit Acorns to show club's support
Two Walsall footballers met with children at Acorns Hospice – as the club backed the charity's fight to stay open in the town.
Cameron Norman and Mat Sadler spent time with children, families, staff and volunteers who use the charity's service at the Walstead Road base.
It was the first visit of the club, which announced Acorns as one of its charity partners for the 2019/2020 season after the charity announced it needed to raise £2million in July.
Norman and Sadler were given a tour of the hospice’s specialist facilities and met with children and families enjoying outdoor activities in the hospice gardens, before taking part in a game of boules and a craft session.
Walsall defender Norman said: “It was a really eye-opening day spending time at the hospice. The work everyone does at the hospice for all of the families and children that spend time there is amazing.
“It was great to meet the children using the hospice and to be able to spend time with them and put smiles on their faces with the games we played with them.
"Acorns Children’s Hospice is a very special place and deserves all of the help and support they can get to keep helping more children and families in the future.”
How you can donate to Acorns:
Text ACORNS5 to 70025 to donate £5*
Text ACORNS10 to 70025 to donate £10*
Visit acorns.org.uk/appeal
Phone: 01564 825 037
*With texts you will be charged your donation, plus your standard network rate. Acorns receives at least 98 per cent of your donation as it will incur a two per cent admin charge for this service. By texting, you are agreeing for Acorns to phone or text you to tell you about our work and how you can help. If you wish to donate and not hear from Acorns again, text ACORNS5 NO to 70025. For more information call 01564 825 037. Acorns Children’s Hospice registered charity no: 700859.
Noel Cramer, Director of Supporter Engagement at Acorns, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the Saddlers players to our Black Country hospice.
"It is always great to show our charity partners what we do but having the players here really helped create some special memories for the children and families at the hospice today.
“We’re extremely grateful to the club and their supporters for their ongoing support and for standing shoulder to shoulder with us in our fight to safeguard the longer-term future of our hospice in Walsall.
"We look forward to working more closely with the club in the future and building on this exciting partnership.”
The charity announced it was going to close its service in Walsall in July. But a long-term financial commitment from the Government gave it a lifeline.
Acorns now needs to raise £2 million by March 2020 in order to fill a funding gap and to allow it to continue operating.
Acorns cares for children aged up to 18 years, who have life limiting or life threatening conditions.
