City owners in 'amazing' £20,000 trek donation

[davieG]

From the Merc - http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/City-owners-amazing-163-20-000-trek-donation/article-3498392-detail/article.html

Footballer's wife Hayley Gallagher says she has been "amazed" by a £20,000 donation to her Great Wall of Chinatrek appeal from the owners of Leicester City.

The 28-year-old wife of City striker Paul Gallagher said the size of the donation from Thai millionaire Vichai Raksriaksorn has doubled the fund-raising total from her Far East adventure in March.

All the money is going to the Meningitis Trust, in memory of Paul's brother, Daniel, who died of the disease when he was just nine months old.

Hayley told the Mercury: "The owners told us they were going to make a donation but, in our wildest dreams, we never expected this much. We were absolutely gob-smacked. It was an amazing gesture.

"It was a very generous contribution which will make an enormous difference to the appeal.

"People have been so generous and we want to thank the City fans and other people who have helped us by donating money.

"I think the total is now about £37,000 and we will continue raising money for the appeal."

Mr Raksriaksorn's son, Aiyawatt, the club's executive director, officially handed over the £20,000 cheque to Hayley and Paul before Monday's Championship clash with Watford, which City won 4-2.

The Thai owners took control of the club towards the end of last year and are heavily backing manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's attempts to take the team into the Premier League.

They originally intended for the presentation to be a private matter, but now hope that Hayley's fund-raising efforts, along with fellow footballers' wives Becky Doyle, Paula Parnaby and Melissa Derbyshire, will bring more awareness of the work of the trust.

Becky and Colin Doyle, who plays for Birmingham City, also have a personal connection with meningitis as their baby son, Liam, almost died of the disease last year.

Meanwhile, Hayley says she has "just about recovered" from her challenge along one of the world's most famous landmarks.

She said: "It was very punishing and some sections were very tough.

"Some are not normally walked by the general public. It was also tough mentally, but it was an experience I will never forget."

Sue Davie, chief executive of the Meningitis Trust, said the support which Hayley and the others have given the cause was "inspirational".

[Babylon]

Exceptionally generous tax right off gift.

Only kidding, I hope these guys stick around because so far they haven't done much wrong!!

[shen]

Exceptionally generous tax right off gift.

Only kidding, I hope these guys stick around because so far they haven't done much wrong!!

It is very generous, but the cynical side of me also rears its head. Then again, anyone that's donated can get a tax write-off

[Collymore]

Forget about the tax write off, that could have paid 3 days of Given's wage

[Haydos]

Gonna hold the cynicism and say well done and fair play to the owners. Strikes me as odd that they'd only raised 17k before that. 17k and she's the wife of a Championship footballer. Seems like the players haven't dug very deep.

[Finnegan]

Was about to say that Haydos. 17k?! And they have connections in numerous clubs?!

[Babylon]

Gonna hold the cynicism and say well done and fair play to the owners. Strikes me as odd that they'd only raised 17k before that. 17k and she's the wife of a Championship footballer. Seems like the players haven't dug very deep.

Good point, cheap bastards.

[Haydos]

I think Stringer has been networking it as well. Plus people with the likes of Sav on twitter and other people that would be involved with the club (Sven must have some rich friends )

Yak could spare a few bob of his 55k surely