An enthusiastic crowd including England rugby Internationals Matt Stevens, Lee Mears and Matt Perry helped raise £25,000 for national charity, the Willow Foundation at an intimate charity polo event, hosted by Arsenal legend and charity co-founder, Bob Wilson last Saturday (31st May).
Held at the Beaufort Polo Club, over 220 guests watched in awe as an Emlor quartet, including England International Nacho Gonzalez, beat Thai Caballus 8 goals to 6 ½. In a game that was nip and tuck all the way, it was Nacho Gonzalez who did the damage and in the process picked up the most valuable player award.
The Willow Foundation provides quality of life and quality of time for seriously ill young adults aged 16-40 through the provision of special days. To date the charity has organised and funded more than 3,000 special days for those living with life threatening conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and organ failure. Indeed, one of the charity’s recipients, Mike Wilson, spoke after lunch about the positive impact of his special day for not only him but also his family.
The Willow Polo Day was organised by charity fundraiser, Sue Jackson in association with the Beaufort Polo Club. Guests enjoyed a Champagne reception and three course lunch before a charity auction including a Mercedes AMG driving day and a day for 10 guests at Ascot’s King George day helped raise £12,000 towards the event.
Founders of the Willow Foundation, Bob and Meg Wilson were thrilled with the amount raised. Commenting on the day Bob Wilson said, “It’s been a fantastic day which wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of so many people including our sponsors Bang & Olufsen. We’re thrilled that so many people have shown their support for the Willow Foundation. I guarantee that the monies raised today will be a real and positive difference to the lives of many seriously ill young adults throughout the UK.”
The aim of any Willow Foundation special day is to offer ‘time out’ from treatment and allow seriously ill young adults to spend quality time with friends and family whilst pursuing an activity they all enjoy. For some, a special day is their last chance to fulfil a dream. For others it is the opportunity to return some normality back into their lives. But for all a special day provides precious memories for the future. It is the Foundation’s aim to offer a special day to every seriously ill young adult (aged 16-40) in the UK.
The action continues at Beaufort this Sunday (8th June) with the Youth Action Wiltshire (YAW) charity polo day. All proceeds from the day will go directly to projects supported and funded by YAW, whose patron is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Lunch tickets are available at £85 per person or £800 for a table of 10 and include a Champagne reception, three course lunch with wine, reserved grandstand seat and traditional English tea. Individual car passes are also available at £15 and provide the perfect opportunity to bring a picnic!
