Michael Powell Hits His Benefit Year for Six
Feb 22 2008
Warwickshire player Michael Powell was today starting an innings of a different kind as he launched his fundraising benefit year with a champagne reception at the Banking Hall of Wragge & Co, Colmore Row. The former Warwickshire captain, who was joined at the event by team mates including Allan Donald and Dougie Brown, will be supporting local charity, Cure Leukaemia, which is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, during his benefit year.
Michael decided to support Cure Leukaemia after becoming aware of the charity through other Warwickshire team mates. Cure Leukaemia is currently raising £5 million for the new Centre for Clinical Haematology, which opened in March 2006. Michael is now planning a year long diary of events, which he hopes will attract a lot of support.
Michaels benefit year will kick off on 12th April with a Launch Ball at Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, which will be hosted by former Warwickshire favourite Gladstone Small with entertainment provided by ‘70’s legends Showaddywaddy and radio DJ Phil Upton.
Michael said: “It’s a really a great honour to be awarded a benefit and I have a real mix of events planned for the year from golf days to pantomime. I am very happy to be able to share my benefit with Cure Leukaemia; they are doing some fantastic work and really making a difference to people’s lives. I am really looking forward to the year and I hope that people will come along and support me.”
Other events in Michael Powell’s benefit year include a Casino Night at Grosvenor Casino in Walsall on 1st March, and a Golf Day at Blackwell Golf Course 28 April. Further information on these and other events can be obtained by contacting Alison Prosser.
For further information please contact: Alison Prosser on 0121 627 5858 or email: alison@mp2008.co.uk
Notes to editors
About Michael Powell
Michael made his debut for Warwickshire in 1992 and was captain between
2001 and 2003, during which time the club won the Benson and Hedges Trophy
He has also played for England A, England under 19’s and captained England
Under 18’s.
About Cure Leukaemia
The Cure Leukaemia Appeal is a £5 million project launched in 2004 to create
a world class centre of excellence for clinical leukaemia research. At this
point we have:
- Raised £2.4 million to build the Centre which is now fully operational
- Leveraged £4 million of free drugs for clinical trials which are having a world wide impact
- Funded salaries for 5 research nurses worth £450,000 over three years
- Funded £160,000 for patient care and comforts through purchase of air conditioning, wheelchairs, commissioned art, furnishing of a quiet room, counselling support and the launch of a support group for patients and carers.
All this has been achieved in 3 years with an I:E ratio of 85:15.
The remaining £2 million is required for:
- Research scientists at £150,000 for 3 year contracts
- A further 15 research nurses posted to other haematology units throughout the Midlands to extend the impact of the clinical research currently taking place at the Leukaemia Centre – Cost of each nurse on a 3 year contract is £90,000
- Ground breaking clinical projects
- State of the art equipment such as a blood count machine at £40,000 which is desperately required
- Purchase of drugs for further clinical trials.
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