Charity benefits from special MND match-day

By Mark Stevens
23/4/23

Exeter and East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association have benefitted to the sum of £5,000 following a special match-day at Sandy Park aimed at raising awareness and funds for MND.

Back in December, the Exeter Chiefs Foundation teamed up with three leading charities to create a special ‘MND Day’ for the Exeter Chiefs versus Gloucester fixture in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Representatives from the Exeter and East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and 4Ed campaign were in attendance to help boost the coffers of all three charities.

Recently, Foundation chairman, Tony Rowe CBE, was able to present a cheque for £5,000 to Cynthia Hopkins, of Exeter & East Devon MND, thanks to monies raised on the day, including bucket collecting at the ground, an online auction and donations received from the corporate hospitality on the day.

Trustees of the Exeter Chiefs Foundation agreed that the Exeter Chiefs Foundation would like to top up the funds raised on the day to make a donation of £5,000 to each of the three organisations.

Mr Rowe said: “said: “As a Foundation we have worked for a number of years with Exeter and East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association as one of our designated charities, as well as supporting the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

“Ahead of the game in December, we felt it was a great opportunity to not only help those two charities further with their much-needed fundraising, but at the same time assist the 4Ed Campaign, which has been set up for former Gloucester player Ed Slater, who was diagnosed with the disease last year.

“The whole day was all about not only raising awareness of MND but, more importantly, raising funds to help the charities and aid research into the causes of MND and investigate potential cures. We were delighted with the support shown and thank everyone who contributed in whatever way they did.”