I started Charity work back in 1989.It all came about when living in Sussex. I got a sweepstake going on the Grand National that year. Someone said why don’t you build on it with other events. So with my head getting ideas which started coming out of my ears, the Sweepstake Club was launched. I had a group of people paying £2 a month over the year. Which meant the Grand National sweepstake would be worth a lot of money.
Over the years to come, 250 members joined. Events went from the Grand National, Open Golf, FA Cup, Dogs, Derby, World Snooker, Big races throughout the year including the Derby, St. Léger & the Cheltenham Gold cup.
I had fantastic support from top trainers. Peter Walwyn from Newbury who trained the winner of the Derby in 1975 with Grundy also a trainer who became a close friend The late Josh Gifford who trained the Grand National winner in 1981 with a fairy-tale story with Aldaniti. Jockey Bob Champion. A film was made of this story called CHAMPION. Philip Hobbs who has gone on to be a successful trainer.
Charities such as MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE, SPINAL INJURY ASSOCIATION, and INJURED JOCKEY ASSOCIATION all benefited. Over the 4 years £40,000 was raised.
Sadly a very low point in my life with a break up of my second marriage hit me very hard, and sadly now regret folding a fantastic club which I had built up, it could have got massive.
Also thanks to connections of Desert Orchid amazing race horse. Done live radio on five live, Also done BBC south TV. Also had a spread in a national paper. along with this Amazing Horse known as DESSIE. So with that chapter closed.
I meet the most amazing person in my life. She has become my rock my best friend. Amazing wife for the past 16 years .And still looks amazing .I’m very proud to call her my wife. MAZ, who supports everything I do.
So to 2007 hard to believe what happened to me, I suffered with heart problem. Its fair to say if it was not for quick thinking and the cardiac care unit at the Harvey, I would not be here today.
This action kicked off more Charity work. Being a director at Ashford Town FC, a Charity match was a start of something big.
This is were I bumped into a man I used to play football against in our School days. now a very successful local radio DJ with his own show.
Mr John (webbo) Webster who agreed to come on board to help get a team together including the great Razor Ruddock, an amazing night back in April 2008. You can read all about what happened in the PAST tab.
Webbo has now become a very good friend and has supported events I’ve put on since.
HELP FOR HEROES Event back in 2010 raised over £14.500.00, Sadly it could have been so much more. With so much hard work went into that day behind the scenes. Mr Steve Monk who organised the stage, only for the day to be dampened by heavy rain all day. Also the staff at the Julie Rose.
It was not only all that, a lot of stars letting us down on that day, Team called London Town. To be fair we had more stars in our team. We smashed them 7-4 .
So the Charities that have been supported by Ashford Charity funds include. Cardiac care unit WHH, Find a Voice, Clic Sargent, Soilders Charity, Children stroke Charity. Celia Blackney unit WHH.
The Pilgrims Hospice has become the most benefited Charity as my lovely wife Maz and I both work there full time.
This year alone including a Charity match at Folkestone with the legend Peter Shilton, bingo nights, race nights, have brought in £10,000.
That’s £60,000.00 since 2008, and £100,000.00 Since 1989.
Here’s to 2014 and many more years. From your soon to be 50 year old. Founder and trustee.
Entertainments Manager.
GAZZA.
THANK YOU YOU TO ALL HAVE SUPPORTED MY EVENTS XXXX
