Warwickshire Stumps Up For Three Lifesaving Research Nurses

Warwickshire County Cricket Club has boosted the lifesaving work of Birmingham-based blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia, after donating funds to employ a further three research nurses to deliver its pioneering treatments at hospitals across the Midlands.

Cure Leukaemia funds treatments for patients that are not normally available on the NHS, and the three nurses have been funded by the club's £75,000 donation from ticket revenues generated at the third npower Test Match between England and India at Edgbaston.

Colin Povey, Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: "We've been a longstanding supporter of Cure Leukaemia because it invests every pound that it generates directly into saving the lives of patients.

"Over the course of our six-year partnership we've seen the charity take great strides forward, including the opening of a new world-class research and treatment at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Many of its patients may not be here today without the great work of the charity and its supporters."

The partnership between Warwickshire and Cure Leukaemia started in 2005 when the club's Director of Cricket, Ashley Giles, nominated it as a charity for his benefit year. The Club has since gone on to create a playing shirt in the charity's honour, has staged numerous fundraising drives at its domestic fixtures and is hosting this year's Cure Leukaemia Christmas Ball in its new banqueting suite.

Professor Charlie Craddock, Founder of Cure Leukaemia and a Clinical Haematologist, said: "This single donation from Warwickshire CCC is the biggest in Cure Leukaemia's history and we’re very grateful to the Club's staff, players and supporters for their fantastic efforts and generosity.

"The lifesaving treatments that Cure Leukaemia funds are rarely available through the NHS and can only be delivered at hospitals where a research nurse is present. However, more nurses provides the ability to deliver the treatments more widely across the Midlands and hopefully save even more lives."

To find out more about Cure Leukaemia and get involved in future fundraising initiatives, please contact a member of the team on 0121 371 4367 or email info@cureleukaemia.co.uk