Kieran Trippier has donated £5,000 to St Oswald's Hospice after Newcastle United players and staff stepped up to support assistant Graeme Jones at a charity event last week.
Jones' mother, Rita, received end of life care at the Gosforth facility in 1991 and died at just 46 years of age following her brave battle with cancer. Jones previously told ChronicleLive how it was, understandably, a 'horrendous time for everybody', but the Geordie never forgot how the doctors and nurses helped make his mother feel 'safe' and provided the support his family desperately needed.
Jones vowed to give back when he returned to the North East 30 years later and became an ambassador for St Oswald's with his wife, Debbie. The Joneses duly helped to organise a sportsman's dinner at the Hilton Gateshead last Thursday, which has raised more than £68,000, and counting, for the hospice.
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England boss Gareth Southgate lent his support on the night and the event was also attended by a host of leading figures from Newcastle, including head coach Eddie Howe, assistant Jason Tindall, sporting director Dan Ashworth and the entire coaching team. Nearly half of the playing squad were also there; Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Callum Wilson, Dan Burn, Nick Pope, Sean Longstaff, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, Elliot Anderson, Matt Ritchie and Mark Gillespie all attended while even Bruno's father, Dick, wanted to come to show his support.
Trippier and a number of his team-mates also made donations - the England international's £5,000 contribution has helped take the overall total to £68,025 - and Jones was moved by the backing his family received.
“The sports dinner was an incredible evening," he said. "There was so much support in the room and for Gareth, Eddie and the lads to give their time, well, it really meant a lot to me and my family. I am delighted that I could help in this way."
St Oswald’s Hospice chief executive Steph Edusei added: “I can’t say thank you enough to Graeme and Debbie for making this incredible event happen. We were delighted to have Graeme come on board as a hospice ambassador and his own personal experience of hospice care mean that his speech at the event was very powerful and moving."
To make a donation to St Oswald’s Hospice, please visit this link: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/graemejonessportsdinner
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