Rams pre-season game nets cash for holiday centre

A sell-out Derby County pre-season game has netted cash for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.

The charity, which pays for youngsters from all over the county to enjoy seaside stays in Skegness, has received £1,225.61 in ticket sales from the game against Alfreton Town.

Alfreton Town has been raising money for the charity via sales generated through Ticketpass, an ethical platform which enables organisations to give away half the ticket admin cash to a charity of its choice.

Over the 2021/22 season, the National League North side generated £1,330.32 for the holiday centre.

Alfreton Town Council has also nominated the holiday centre as its charity, contributing a further £2,041 from a year of fundraising, including hosting market stalls, organising a raffle and many other activities.

All the combined efforts from Alfreton have seen just over £4,500 raised for the charity, enough to send 10 children on a week’s break to Skegness.

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has been going for 131 years and provides holidays for children who are nominated because they may not otherwise get one, either because of financial hardship or other reasons.

A spokesperson for Derby County said: “We are delighted that £1,200 was raised for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre as a result of our pre-season friendly against Alfreton Town.

“We would like pay tribute to the Alfreton Town and Derby County fans that turned out in such large numbers to play their part, not just on the night but for such a worthwhile charity at the very heart of the local community.

“We are proud to have contributed to Alfreton Town Council and Alfreton Town Football Club’s touching gesture to raise funds for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre and congratulate them on their selfless efforts so far.”

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre chairman Alan Grimadell said: “Thank you so much to everyone from this wonderful community of Alfreton who have given so much to our charity.

“The town council has worked tirelessly to raise funds for us over the year; the football club has been so generous in donating a proportion of sales through Ticketpass, and Derby County has played such an important role in coming to Alfreton to play and agreeing to support our charity too.

“We rely totally on donations to keep our charity going. Every penny raised puts a smile on the face of a child who gets to go to Skegness.

“We had to shut for two years because of Covid so we’re putting all our efforts in continuing to raise as much money as we possibly can to keep our charity going now they are allowed back again.”