Striker meets his match

May 2 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

ENGLAND striker and Newcastle United skipper Michael Owen has taken time off the pitch to surprise some of his young fans at a children’s hospice.

The honorary Geordie visited St Oswald’s Hospice Children’s Service in Gosforth, Newcastle, as part of a Team England Footballers’ Charity initiative working with national charity, the Association of Children’s Hospices (ACH).

He received a tour of the facility and he also spent time with the centre’s children, many of whom play wheelchair football.

He said: “It was an absolute pleasure to visit St Oswald’s Hospice. Hopefully, when a familiar face pops in it can lift the patients and the staff, who do a brilliant job day in, day out.

“The facility is obviously really well run and one of the nicest I’ve been to. I really enjoyed the day and would like to encourage more people from across the country to find out about children’s hospice services in their area.”

Team England has been set up by England’s footballing greats, and this initiative, chosen by the squad, aims to raise awareness of children’s hospice services across the UK.

Tracey Forrester, head of St Oswald’s Children’s Service, said: “We had a fantastic day and we are truly grateful to Michael for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come along to meet some of the children and families who benefit from our service.

“A number of our teenage boys play wheelchair football and so were especially excited to meet Michael.”

Name your price

AS well as buying a standard cube of space in the new facility for £20, for which you will receive a personalised certificate, £100 can pay for five cubic feet of the development, known as a bronze cube, and you will also be entered onto the charity’s online register of donors.

A silver cube costs £500 and pays for 25 cubic feet of the extension, and you will feature in Crawford House’s own special register of donors.

The gold standard cube buys 50 cubic feet for £1,000 and you will also receive a personal invitation to the opening of the new facility.

And for £5,000 you can buy a platinum standard 250 cubic feet, which means your name will feature on a plaque permanently displayed at Crawford House.

To make a donation or find out further information, contact the Sick Children’s Trust on (020) 7791-2266 or visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org