Birch’s 40th & Final Run To Support Neonatal Incubator Appeal

[Sambiasso]

On Sunday 22 May, a Leicester City tradition returns to King Power Stadium for its final instalment – as Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall embarks on his 40th Annual End of Season Run in aid of Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Neonatal Incubator Appeal.
Southampton are the visitors to Filbert Way for a 4pm kick-off on the final day of the Premier League campaign. And the Birch, who has raised millions over the years, will conclude his heroic efforts with a gruelling 90-minute run around the iconic turf.

Launched by the Birch in the early 1980s – and curtailed over recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic – the previous 39 runs have enabled our much-loved Club Ambassador to raise over £1M, with more than 100 local charities benefiting from that money over the years.

The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation donated all funds raised throughout April to the Neonatal Incubator Appeal, which specialises in care of babies in the first 28 days of their life and who have either been born early, have low weight or who have a medical condition that requires specialised treatment.

They wish to replace older incubators and upgrade them with the very latest model that encompasses state of the art technology to give babies the best chance of survival.

Speaking ahead of what promises to be a special occasion at King Power Stadium, the Birch said: “The generosity of the Blue Army never fails to amaze me. I’m so grateful for every single penny we have raised over the past four decades. It’s a difficult time, with everybody at the moment feeling a squeeze, but if you can give anything this Sunday, it would mean the world. It makes such an enormous difference to the lives of people in need.

“Since we renamed the Foundation in the Boss’ honour, we have continued to dedicate ourselves to his magical legacy in the city of Leicester and the county as a whole. Everybody at the Club is committed to building on that special bond forged between the Club and the people of this magnificent region.”

If you would like to volunteer as a bucket collector for the day, please contact [email protected] for further details.

To donate to the Birch’s 40th Annual End of Season Run in aid of Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Neonatal Incubator Appeal, please use the methods below.

TEXT: BIRCH40RUN followed by your donation amount to 70450 to give that amount.

ONLINE: LCFC.com/birch40

IN PERSON: Donate on the day of the match against Southampton.
 

 

[tom27111]

I swear Birch said his last ever run was before the Oxford game in 1991?

 

Fair play to him though.

[Corky]

How many final runs is it now? Double figures?

[jammie82uk]

 

[Vacamion]

 

Oi, Lizzy, get his MBE upgraded to OBE, at least.

 

Or better still, get Charlie to get the sword out.

 

You know it makes sense.  

 

 

 

 

[Mint23]

We’ve been collectors for this in previous seasons, does anyone know if they need a couple of other people holding buckets bullying fans into donating? I’d gladly offer mine and my families service again

[Sambiasso]

Just now, Mint23 said:

We’ve been collectors for this in previous seasons, does anyone know if they need a couple of other people holding buckets bullying fans into donating? I’d gladly offer mine and my families service again

If you would like to volunteer as a bucket collector for the day, please contact [email protected] for further details.

[Mint23]

Just now, Sambiasso said:

If you would like to volunteer as a bucket collector for the day, please contact [email protected] for further details.

Thank you mate, will do. 

[adejo92]

The guy really is amazing.

[smudger63]

The thing I find worrying  is I'm so old I was watching him run around as a player!  A top bloke who genuinely loves our club, and has become a real life leicester city legend.  Go on the Birch! 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

4 hours ago, smudger63 said:

The thing I find worrying  is I'm so old I was watching him run around as a player! 

Me too.  

 

My favourite goal was his headed equaliser in extra time - at home to Arsenal - FA Cup 5th round replay 1975.

 

Fantastic moment which took the game to a 2nd replay ... although lost that one unfortunately.

 

[fox_up_north]

I'll be doing my first 10k on the day but go on Birch! 

[smudger63]

35 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

Me too.  

 

My favourite goal was his headed equaliser in extra time - at home to Arsenal - FA Cup 5th round replay 1975.

 

Fantastic moment which took the game to a 2nd replay ... although lost that one unfortunately.

 

We all Sang Radford is a barsteward, I remember it well 

[Rob Clarke]

Like Smudger63, I too feel old as I can remember the Birch scoring a screamer for Chelsea against us at the kop end in a 1-4 home defeat in December 1968. Who would have thought then just what a fantastic ambassador he would become for the club he clearly loves.

[HybridFox]

.

Edited 19 May 2022 by TK95

[Jimothy]

 

 

[VinceNoir]

[Corky]

Nigel Pearson and Roy Cropper in the same video.

 

What a club.

[Sambiasso]

The club have spent a fortune on Cameo

[kingfox]

[Samilktray]

Was that Matty ‘the messiah’ Fryatt in the latest video? 

[Blue-fox]

Surely he ain’t going to be running laps of the pitch again, not with his dodgy ticker!

[Stadt]

What a video 

[Guest Electric Yetis]

2 minutes ago, Stadt said:

What a video 

What a profile photo 🤣.

 

The video actually made me laugh out loud. Love Nige.

[StanSP]

Great stuff all around.