Celebrities warm up for special cricket match for Teenage Cancer Trust

02/06/10

Olympic swimmer Mark Foster and musician Bill Wyman are hastily practicing their batting skills as they are the latest special guests to sign up to a celebrity-packed cricket match in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

On Sunday 13 June, the world-renowned Bunbury Cricket Club will field an all-star team to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust’s Addenbrooke’s Appeal and the England Schools Cricket Association.

Now in it’s fifth year and sponsored by Cambridge based Excell Group Plc, the match will be hosted by Robin and Willow Wylie. Celebrities will compete against a Teenage Cancer Trust cricket team which is sure to provide a few wickets! Other celebrity players that are confirmed so far include Harry Judd, the drummer from Pop Rock Band McFly who will captain Teenage Cancer Trust’s team, actor Greg Wise, ex-champion boxer Lloyd Hunnigan, former Australian cricketer Jeff Thompson and former footballers and football managers Joe Kinnear, Mickey Harford and Barry Fry.

The match will take place at The Old Rectory, in Carlton, near Newmarket and begins at 11.30am. General admission tickets cost just £10 for adults and children go free but there are also a limited number of premier tickets that include entrance, a two-course lunch with wine with players and celebrities and afternoon tea for £50.

As well as the cricket, there’s something for all the family with a climbing wall, face painting, helter skelter, Punch and Judy, Heart Angels, buskers, a steel band, licensed bar, raffle and various craft and food stalls. There will also be an exclusive auction hosted by Lars Tharp from BBC Antiques Roadshow which features exclusive lots such as tickets to the 2011 Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at the Royal Albert Hall, tickets to the AEGON Masters Tennis Tournament in London and a specially designed ‘mod style’ jacket signed by Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey from The Who.

Helen Bearfield-Smith, Teenage Cancer Trust’s Regional Appeals Manager in East Anglia says: “This is a great day out for all the family but most importantly it’s a way to raise money for two very important charities. So far the local community have raised an impressive £1.5 million towards our fundraising appeal which is going towards the building work of a Teenage Cancer Trust unit which has now stared at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. This specialist unit for 13 to 24 year olds will cost an estimated £2.5 million to build so it would be fantastic if we can count on even more local support for our fun filled cricket day.”

Darren Strowger, Chairman of local telecommunications supplier Excell, who are proud sponsors of the cricket match comments: “Teenage Cancer Trust is a fantastic charity striving to make life better for these young people. It’s important to recognise that teenagers have different needs from children and adults and to that end, it’s important that we do what we can to help. The annual cricket match is a great day out for the family but also an opportunity to raise both awareness and funds for the Addenbrooke’s appeal. We are proud to sponsor this event and look forward to seeing a big crowd come and support the Teenage Cancer Trust team.”

Tickets are available on the day at the gate and also by calling 01638 508055 or emailing fionarosenberg@btinternet.com If you would like to help with Teenage Cancer Trust Addenbrooke’s Appeal please contact Helen Bearfield-Smith, Regional Appeals Manager for East Anglia on 07852 998234 helen@teenagecancertrust.org For more information visit www.teenagecancertrust.org