Martin Keown

Former Arsenal and England player Martin Keown encouraged schools and youth football clubs across Oxfordshire to get behind a national football fundraiser for CLIC Sargent.

Martin signed autographs and had a kick about in the garden of CLIC Court on Wednesday 20th May while talking to schoolchildren about his career and why they should take to the pitch this summer in support of CLIC Sargent.

Kick for Children with Cancer encourages schools and youth football clubs to organise sponsored football-themed events for children of all ages and abilities to raise money for CLIC Sargent. This is Kick for Children with Cancer’s fifth consecutive year and it has raised over £620,000 to date with more than 300,000 children taking part in events over the past four years.

The kick about is being held at CLIC Court, one of CLIC Sargent’s seven Homes from Home. CLIC Court offers families affected by childhood cancer a comfortable place to stay, free of charge, while their child receives treatment at the nearby John Radcliffe Hospital. The home accommodates families having to travel long distances to hospital from Milton Keynes across to Swindon, Reading and the outskirts of London. Last year 42 different families stayed at the Home from Home.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School neighbours CLIC Court and offers educational support to families staying for long periods at the Home from Home.

“It’s great to visit CLIC Sargent’s Home from Home and show my support for their fantastic football fundraiser – Kick for Children with Cancer,” says Martin Keown. “Holding a sponsored penalty shoot-out or fancy dress football match for CLIC Sargent is a great way to practice your soccer skills this summer. And you’ll be helping the charity to continue supporting families affected by childhood cancer with vital services like CLIC Court.” 

CLIC Sargent’s local Fundraising Co-ordinator Mary McBain says, “CLIC Court costs over £35,000 a year to run and it is just one of a range of services the charity provides for families whose lives have been turned upside down by childhood cancer.

“I would like to thank Martin for coming to visit CLIC Court, meeting the children from St Joseph’s and supporting Kick for Children with Cancer. Right now we can only help two out of three families whose child has cancer. We need your help to be there…for each and every one,” adds Mary.

For more information, or to register to take part in Kick for Children with Cancer, please call 08451 20 22 32 or visit Kick for Children with Cancer. 

Notes to Editor:

• For any media enquiries please contact Ruth Bowen in the CLIC Sargent press office on: 0117 314 8617 or email: ruth.bowen@clicsargent.org.uk.