WORLD Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden has revealed a double target for the season ahead – retaining his title and raising £100,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
And the British golden boy, who has captured the nation’s imagination following his amazing title triumph last October, said: “Raising this money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is every bit as important to me as being World Champion again.” Tai will launch the defence of his world crown – and his fund raising year - in the opening FIM Speedway Grand Prix of the season in New Zealand on Saturday, April 5
He wants the world of Speedway to support him in his drive to hit the target and is calling on British clubs to join him in fund raising. Tai will also be swapping his Speedway bike for a bicycle as he cycles into the Millennium Stadium on practice day ahead of the FIM British Speedway Grand Prix in July – and people can join him for the ride.
He added: “I'm calling on all my fans and the speedway world to come together to support my challenge by donating and also organising their own club events to support my £100,000 target.
“This is an amazing place and the money we will raise will make a huge difference to the lives of sick children from all over the UK ." The money raised will fund a new single en suite bedroom in the Premier Inn Clinical Building , a brand new, state-of-the-art centre due to open at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2017.
Tai said: “I’m really excited to be taking on this challenge to raise funds for a new bedroom for children at Great Ormond Street Hospital , and I hope all my fans will get involved and show their support too. Having visited the hospital recently, I know they really need our help to update their wards and make sure there is space for parents to stay with their child.
“We’ve got lots of exciting fundraising activities planned for the 2014 season, so watch this space!”
Matt Forrest, Head of Community Fundraising at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, said: “We’re thrilled that Tai has chosen to support the charity during the 2014 season. All the money he and his fans raise will help us make a real difference for patients and families from across the UK .” Further details of how UK Speedway teams can show their support and win the chance to ride with Tai will be announced at www.taiwoffinden.com shortly. Sponsor Tai at www.justgiving.com/teamtai
About Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK . The hospital’s pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children who are suffering from the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions, from across the country and abroad. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity needs to raise £50 million a year to help rebuild and refurbish Great Ormond Street Hospital , provide vital up-to-date equipment and fund research into better treatments for the children. You can help us to provide world class care for our patients and families. For more information visit www.gosh.org About the Premier Inn Clinical Building Due to be completed in 2017, the Premier Inn Clinical Building will complete the Mittal Children’s Medical Centre, named in recognition of the generous support of Aditya and Megha Mittal and family. The completion of the Mittal Children’s Medical Centre will see hospital’s vision to provide modern facilities for all our acute inpatients become a reality, where a parent or carer can stay comfortably by their bedside. It will also enable us to keep up with the growing demand for our services and provide world class care to more children.
