Construction firm Willmott Dixon in Wales has helped the Stroke Association net a fundraising goal by organising a charity football tournament at the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre.
The leisure centre is soon to be replaced by Willmott Dixon’s Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, one of the many developments taking place at The Works, a major regeneration scheme of the former steelworks in Ebbw Vale involving Willmott Dixon and four other contractors.
The five-a-side matches included players from Willmott Dixon and the Stroke Association, as well as other companies involved with the Ebbw Vale site and The Works, including Leadbitter, R&M Williams, Dawnus and Blaenau Gwent Architects. Willmott Dixon covered all costs and the players donated money to take part in the tournament.
The charity match raised nearly £300, bringing the total raised by Willmott Dixon through charity football tournaments to nearly £2,000 in the past six months. Willmott Dixon plan to hold another charity tournament before construction on the sports centre is completed in September.
Bridget Stadden, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Stroke Association said: “We are for life after Stroke and events like this will help to raise awareness of the 61,000 people in Wales living with the after effects of stroke. Stroke is the largest cause of adult disability and the third biggest killer in Wales. We’re really grateful to Willmott Dixon for organising this tournament. We provide support and information to help sufferers and their families in the aftermath of a stroke, which can be a really difficult time. The money raised through this tournament will go towards improving the lives of stroke survivors and their families through research, campaigning and local services in the Blaenau Gwent area.”
Neal Stephens, managing director of Willmott Dixon in Wales, said: “Willmott Dixon is committed to making a tangible difference in the communities in which we work. We are pleased to have held another successful charity football tournament, this time raising money for the Stroke Association, which was nominated by one of our employees.
“We chose a health charity to link with the new sports centre we are building at The Works, which will promote fitness and wellbeing to the local community. The centre will include a 25m six lane swimming pool and viewing gallery, a fun pool with flumes and spa facilities, a multi-purpose sports hall and sports pitch, fitness suites and catering facilities. We are very excited about this project.”
As well as the Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, Willmott Dixon has also been involved with several other projects at The Works, including the new Gwent Records Office, the Ebbw Vale car park and the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community.