Football night success for Willow Wood raises more than £5,000 for hospice funds

A big success at the fiftgh Annual Willow Wood Hospice Football Night raised £5,278 for the hospice.

England Lioness Ella Toone, alongside her partner Joe Bunney, Alex Willaims MBE and Les 'Chappy' Chapman, told fascinating stories about the world of football.

Almost 200 people were treated to a fun night along with a pie and pea supper.

One of the organisers, Cllr Denise Ward, was presented with a certificate, by Willow Wood Hospice, for being a unsung hero.

Speaking at the event Willow Wood representative Lucy Ta'ati told the packed audience" "Many people raise money for Willow Wood Hospice and the generosity and hard work of voluntary fundraisers is often unbelievable and astonishing and without their help there would probably not be a hospice.

"Remember only 20 per cent of statutory, or government funding, helps run Willow Wood Hospice.

"So, I thank you all for contributions here tonight and thanks to Chris & Brian, and the volunteers, and the guests from the football world, for your wonderful help tonight."

She added: "However, there are often unsung heroes on occasions like this and tonight Willow Wood Hospice would like to single out a woman that has tirelessly made meat and potato pie for thousands of Tameside people at hundreds of events over the years, all paid for by herself and cooked in her own kitchen.

"However, she is much more than a maker of pies she is a true champion of our community and gives her life to many great causes and groups.

"Tonight again she has made pie and peas for 200 people, in this the fifth Willow Wood Hospice Football Night. We at the hospice would like to mark this 'unsung hero'. Denise Ward, with all our love and respect please accept this certificate of achievement for all your efforts to date from Willow Wood Hospice."