Posted: July 20 2021
THE FIRST #BLUEFORBOB DAY RAISES OVER £300,000 AND COUNTING…
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Huge thanks to all those who supported the first #BlueForBob day and helped to raise a staggeringly generous amount of money to fund a new diagnostic test for prostate cancer.
By the end of a glorious day in Birmingham we had reached a fantastic total of £254,748 and this has continued to grow with the total now at over £300,000 – and donations still coming in!
We turned Edgbaston blue at the England v Pakistan One-Day International on Tuesday 13th July with fans, players, commentators and staff all wearing blue in celebration of Bob’s life and the world-famous Barmy Army, donning big blue wigs as their nod to the great man.
Phenomenal support from Edgbaston, the ECB, and Sky Sports Cricket meant that all day the crowd and those watching at home could celebrate Bob’s life with fantastic footage and tributes, while raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer. The main beneficiary for this year’s efforts will be Prostate Cancer UK supporting a research project based in the UK.
Ben Stokes, fellow Headingley hero and England ODI captain on the day said: “It’s a huge honour to be stepping out for the ODI in memory of Bob Willis. He was a true legend of cricket with the determination and single-mindedness that had the power to turn a game around. I’m proud that we can all support the Bob Willis Fund”.
The day also included a ceremony inducting Bob Willis into the ICC Hall of Fame.
All at the Bob Willis Fund want to thank everybody for their generous donations. We are also extremely grateful to all the team at Sky Cricket, Edgbaston, the ECB and a number of partners and sponsors for their support, including Royal London and New Balance.
A match-day shirt signed by all players from England and Pakistan can be won through a prize draw launching on Wednesday 21th July – 40 years to the day when Bob made Test match cricket history taking 8 for 43 in the 1981 Ashes Series against Australia at Headingley. Details at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bobwillis-shirts.
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