News

The Life Channel raises over £15,000 for charity

3 Dec 2008

Africaid's WhizzKids United is celebrating after The Life Channel's star-studded charity football match The Life Channel raises over £15,000 for charity 8^th of November.

 

WhizzKids United was formed to teach African children important life skills - particularly relating to the impact of HIV/AIDS on their lives - through football.  Funds raised through this event, organised by The Life Channel, will go towards the £40,000 budget required to equip and run the first ever WhizzKids United teen clinic in South Africa, providing confidential screening and counselling for young people.

 

Around 2,000 spectators turned up at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club to watch Hollyoaks stars play against Life Channel staff in a football match - the day's main event. The Life Channel All-stars lost 3-1 to the Hollyoaks team. Twenty-two young mascots, led by volunteer Ryan Cook, also performed a WhizzKids United demo.

 

"We are so glad to have helped raise funds for such a worthwhile charity," said Nick Pickard (aka Tony Hutchinson), the captain of the Hollyoaks football team. "The day was great fun and we were happy to support The Life Channel and WhizzKids United."

 

Other sporting and TV stars, including Sir Tom Finney, legend of Preston North End Football Club and former England international, Rock FM DJ Adam Catterall, and cheerleading troupe Shell's Belles (as seen on Britain's Got Talent in 2006), were involved in the day's activities, along with local celebrities such as the Mayor of Preston, Councillor John Swindells, Preston North End's Master Of Ceremonies Brian Hudson, and the Deepdale Duck.

 

"We are extremely delighted that The Life Channel is flying the flag for WhizzKids United with its celebrity football match, and thank them and the Hollyoaks crew for taking time out to support such an important cause," said Marcus McGilvray, a British HIV nurse and Director and Founder of Whizzkids United. "Not only is this an opportunity to demonstrate the good that can come out of football, but it is also an ideal opportunity to raise awareness about HIV in Africa and in the UK. WhizzKids United is also looking to launch its HIV prevention programme in the UK before the end of the year. Young people in the UK need to be mindful of the fact that HIV is a threat to everyone, and isn't just a disease that's common in Africa."

 

The Life Channel, which organised and supported this event, has adopted WhizzKids United as its charity of the year, and is also encouraging the schools in our broadcasting network to raise funds.

 

Launched by Tony Blair in 2007, The Life Channel Schools is an in-school television network owned and managed by the Life Channel. It is currently contracted in 600 schools, and is growing rapidly across the UK. The network supports students and staff in schools with life skills information, as well as inspiration and advice designed to support Every Child Matters and the National Healthy Schools Programme.

 

"We are delighted to have hosted this high profile event and thank all sponsors and supporters involved," said Phil Austin, Managing Director of The Life Channel. "It all tied together perfectly - having Hollyoaks' fantastic charity football team, helping to raise money for a football-related charity, whilst also bringing everyone in the community together."

 

For more information about WhizzKids United, please visit: www.whizzkidsunited.org