Moreton-born Stoke City footballer Jon Walters donates £6,500 for Claire House’s Pay for a Day appeal

Nov 14 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

A WIRRAL-born Premiership footballer was on the ball to help Claire House.

Stoke City striker Jon Walters, from Moreton, donated £6,500 to the Bebington-based children’s hospice – covering the cost of care for a day.

Its Pay for a Day appeal has already attracted the support of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White and businesses including Boodles the jewellers and hoteliers Sanguine Hospitality.

Father-of-three Jon and his wife Jo visited the hospice last week to meet children and staff.

The footballer, a former pupil of St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey Village, said: “Our family still lives on Wirral, so it made sense for Jo and I to not only support a local charity, but one that helps children and young people.

“As parents, we're fortunate to have three healthy children and this is our way of giving back to families who have to deal with all sorts of difficulties we could not imagine.”

Claire House must raise £6,500 a day to care for children and young people with complex medical conditions and with limited government funding, relies on donations to meet its costs.

Pay for a Day supporters have a day dedicated to them to remember a loved one or celebrate an anniversary.

Clair Bedford, relationships manager at Claire House, said: “Our Pay for a Day appeal has really captured the imaginations of our donors.

“Some have chosen to donate £6,500 as a lump sum while others are choosing to fundraise over time, alone or with friends or colleagues.

“Naming your day at Claire House is a wonderful way to give and is helping to fund the care of our children and young people during these tough economic times.

“However, with 365 days in the year, we still have plenty of days left to fund.”

For more information about the appeal, call 343 0883.