International cricketers visit the West Midlands to support MND charity event

Added: (Fri Mar 19 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - A charity cricket tournament is to be held in Warwickshire to raise funds into the research of Motor Neurone Disease after the wife of former England cricket international Chris Broad was diagnosed with the condition.

Miche – short for Michelle – Broad was told she had the incurable disease which attacks the nervous system and leaves muscles weak and damaged after initially suffering with tingling in her fingers and cramp in her hands and arms last year.

Tony Male, who is Chris’s brother-in-law, and runs Wellesbourne and North Somerset-based events and marketing company Sector Marketing, is helping to organise a six-a-side charity cricket tournament at Wellesbourne Cricket Club in Loxley Close, Wellesbourne, on Sunday, July 18 at 1.30pm.

Current and past international players will be coming along to play in the teams and join guests in the VIP marquee for lunch and Chris’s son, England fast bowler Stuart Broad, will be presenting the prizes at the end of the tournament.

Chris said the support of their family and friends has been amazing and he hoped as many people as possible would come along to play in the tournament or watch the games.

“This disease was thrust upon us unfortunately and no-one really knows much about it,” he said. “To be able to find out a bit more about it through fundraising would be worthwhile.

“It would mean a great deal if we were able to get a whole lot of people to come along and support the day and, most importantly, enjoy the day.

“Miche is a battling sort of lady and she is not going to let this get her down too much. Because of the area that the Motor Neurone has affected first, swallowing and eating is difficult but we’re finding ways around it.

“We’re battling on and trying to keep our heads above water. It’s all we can do.”

Tony Male said he was at a family gathering when Chris and Miche were talking about trying to organise some fundraising events.

“I thought since I run an events management company that we should do everything we could to help particularly since we have a number of keen cricketers working for us including the chairman and secretary of Wellesbourne cricket club,” he said.

“It seemed a natural route for us to take particularly due to Chris and Stuart’s involvement with the game and the enthusiasm of our event teams in Warwickshire and North Somerset to get involved.

“It is an event that will provide a great family day out as well as raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

“We will be announcing the players taking part nearer the time but each of the teams will have one current or former international player and we will be launching an online auction for guests to secure a cricket star at one of the 20 corporate hospitality tables for lunch.

“There will be another sponsors and VIP area for those who don’t wish to have lunch and we will also be raising money online from an auction of cricket and sporting memorabilia.

“Due to the openness of Wellesbourne’s ground, instead of selling tickets we will be going round asking spectators to make donations to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

“We hope as many people as possible will be able to come along and support us on this family fun day and raise money for a worthwhile charity.”

For more details please contact Hannah Male at Sector Marketing at Hannah.male@sectormarketing.co.uk or by ringing 01275 335911.


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