Black Cats shine spotlight on club charity

Sunderland AFC are set to highlight the work of its official charity during a Premier League fixture by wearing special warm-up shirts and hosting fundraising activities for supporters.

The Black Cats will dedicate their home match against Brighton & Hove Albion this Saturday (March 14) to the Foundation of Light, the club’s official charity supporting communities across the region.

Players will take to the pitch for the pre-match warm-up wearing one-off shirts featuring the Foundation of Light logo and encouraging fans to make a donation. 

After the game, the unique shirts will be auctioned to raise funds for the charity’s programmes.

Supporters will be able to donate through bucket collections around the Stadium of Light and the Beacon Fan Zone, as well as by entering the Ha’way and Play matchday lottery – where £2 tickets offer the chance to win £1000 or a squad-signed ball while supporting the Foundation’s community programmes – or by texting FOLFIVE to 70085 to donate £5.

Lesley Spuhler, chief executive of the Foundation of Light, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of Sunderland AFC in giving us this opportunity to showcase the Foundation of Light.

“The chance to have the players wearing the Foundation logo helps shine a spotlight on the challenges many in our community face, and the work that we do to create opportunities, provide essential support, and help change lives for the better.

“Even if half of the supporters in the ground were to text to donate, it would raise £100,000 to support our work, which would be life-changing.”

The Foundation delivers a range of initiatives aimed at improving lives through football, including activities for children and young people, social sessions for over-55s and employability mentoring for those seeking work.

Funds raised will support the Foundation’s work across Wearside and the wider North East.

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