As the rugby league draws to a close and the players (temporarily) hang up their boots for a well-earned rest, it has been an absolute honour for ‘Donations with a Difference’ to have been the chosen charity partner for Canterbury Rugby Football Club (CRFC) throughout the 2022/23 season, and we are incredibly grateful for the immense support shown to us by everyone at the Club.
Elected as the ‘Charity of the Year’ by renowned and much-loved club chairman Giles Hilton (MBE), who was drawn to the ethos of our charity and the passion and tireless commitment of our seven volunteer trustees, many who have supported the club for countless years. The appointment gave our small, relatively unknown charity a huge platform from which to promote the work we do within the local community whilst directly boosting funds through the kind generosity of the Club’s loyal supporters. Recognising that every penny raised would go directly to helping others and with admiration of our charitable ambitions that reflected the community spirit so synonymous of CRFC, it was the perfect match!
The appointment followed the donation of a defibrillator to the club from a small part of the proceeds of our charity gala ball back in in November 2021, pledging the potentially life-saving the equipment after learning of the tragic and untimely death of a young player within the league, and hearing of the clubs bold ambition to ensure a defibrillator was subsequently available to every single team within the club. The small donation reaped huge reward for our charity, augmenting the already strong relationship between our organisations and ultimately securing our place as their chosen charity for the coming season. Raising in the region of £10,000 through match-day collections, a beneficiary lunch and many sizeable, generous donations from some of the clubs business supporters the kindness shown has been astounding and will ensure that we can continue to help those who need us throughout Kent.
