Leicestershire County Cricket club has said it is giving half of all pre-season ticket sales over the next two weeks to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
The club said sales will be split with the humanitarian appeal up to March 18.
The British Red Cross is among the many international agencies desperately trying to distribute aid and resources to those affected by the Russian bombing campaign.
The United Nations has said more than one million people have now fled Ukraine to seek sanctuary from the Russian invasion.
Ukraine’s state emergency service said more than 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began, although that figure has not been independently verified. Many more have been injured.
Marie Hayes of the British Red Cross Scotland, is chairwoman of the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal in Scotland.
She said: “DEC member charities are already helping thousands of people caught up in the horror of this conflict and are best-placed to provide the vital humanitarian support in the days and weeks to come.
“A donation now to the appeal will quickly and effectively provide crucial support needed by so many during these frightening times.”
So far, Red Cross teams in Ukraine have distributed over 30,000 food and hygiene parcels, provided warm clothes, as well as other aid to around 8,000 people sheltering in metro stations.
First aid training has also been delivered to over 2,000 people taking cover in metro stations and bomb shelters, so they have the vital skills to treat their loved ones if needed.
The county cricket club said two ticket sales could provide enough for a hygiene kit for a family of five, giving them supplies to stay healthy for a month.
It said three tickets could provide five blankets to families taking shelter, while the sale of four tickets could pay for 40 chlorine tablets to ensure families have access to clean, safe water.
Jack Bradley, head of marketing and consumer sales at the club: “With our current priority ticket windows open for the 2022 Vitality Blast and England Women’s One Day International, plus the domestic fixture general on sale windows opening over the next week, we predict that tickets will be in high demand.
“We are pleased to give a proportion of this anticipated income to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, to help those currently affected in this horrendous conflict”.
If you would like to donate a larger amount to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis appeal, please click HERE.
