Children’s hospice benefits from FIFA clash

Villa and Wolves virtual derby raises over £4,100 for Acorns.

Football fans missing their favourite sport were treated to a virtual game between local rivals Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday in aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice.

The eight-goal thriller on FIFA 20 saw Villa defender Ezri Konsa suffer a 5-3 defeat against Wolves’ forward Diogo Jota in a live-streamed virtual derby that raised an incredible £4,145.47 for the charity.

Acorns was set to benefit from a bucket collection at Villa’s home game against Wolves, but with all Premier League action currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, the scheduled match between the two sides couldn’t go ahead.

So instead, the Premier league clubs teamed up to play a fundraising match to help Acorns and its work caring for some of the most vulnerable families caught up in the pandemic.

Zoe Baggott, Senior Manager for Area and Events at Acorns, said: “What a nail-biting match – it was goals galore! We can’t thank Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers enough for coming together in this highly imaginative way for Acorns and raising such a fantastic amount.

“We’re extremely grateful to have two of the region’s biggest clubs and their supporters join us in the fight against Covid-19 as we care for some of the community’s most vulnerable families during what is a really scary time. From everyone at Acorns, thank you!”

There are around 600 families supported by the charity across the West Midlands who are now self-isolating and alone, as they care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions.

Acorns has mobilised staff and volunteers to deliver care-packages of essentials, toiletries, treats and games for children, as well as emotional support.

As part of its emergency coronavirus planning, last month Acorns announced it was to temporarily close its hospice in Birmingham for the first time in over thirty years.

The hospice’s staff have been re-assigned to the charity’s other two hospices in Walsall and Worcester, and Acorns in Birmingham offered to the NHS as an extra facility that could be used to treat covid-19 patients.

To support Acorns as it cares for some of the most vulnerable families caught up in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, visit www.acorns.org.uk/urgentappeal.