The FA are delighted to announce that both The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and The Geoff Thomas Foundation will be official FA Charity Partners for 2009.
The two charities join long-term partners British Heart Foundation, Everyman and Coaching for Hope with all five organisations receiving £40,000 from this season's FA Community Shield and a host of FA benefits. These include signed England shirts for auction, exposure in The FA's match day programmes, tickets for England internationals at Wembley stadium and an event at The FA's HQ.
An ex-England international, Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with Leukaemia in 2003 and formed his Foundation after entering remission a year later. Geoff, who has raised money for the Foundation by riding the Tour de France route and running the New York Marathon, commented: "I am so grateful and extremely proud that the Football Association has adopted the Geoff Thomas Foundation as one of its charity beneficiaries for 2009.
"Football has been my life, from playing in the street as a kid in Manchester to playing for England," said Geoff who won nine international caps and captained Crystal Palace in the 1990 FA Cup Final. "It's humbling for me to know that the game I love is backing our campaign. By supporting the Foundation, The FA and football fans across the country will help to save the lives of blood cancer sufferers. I nearly died from blood cancer and I am determined to do all I can to help people who contract this terrible illness. Our partnership with the FA will make a massive difference to people who are fighting for their lives and I'd like to say a sincere thank-you to The FA and the fans."
England's World Cup winning captain, Bobby Moore, died of bowel cancer in 1993 and the Fund that was set up in his name is dedicated to raising money for Cancer Research UK's vital work into fighting the disease.
Bobby's widow, Stephanie Moore MBE, commented: "We are honoured that The FA has chosen to support the Bobby Moore Fund and look forward to working in partnership with them over the coming twelve months. Through this partnership we will be able to raise the awareness of bowel cancer and raise money for research. I am delighted that we can use Bobby's name to make a real difference and to save lives."
For further information please contact the FA or Ruscoe Media:
Matt Phillips at The Football Association 0207 745 4671
Hazel Ruscoe 07970 237 068
Sybil Ruscoe 07767 77 77 87
