The cause of amputees around the world was highlighted by charity Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope (ELoH) at Peterborough United’s London Road stadium on Saturday 17th November 2012. In what was surely a first in football, the teams at Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rover were led out by six mascots representing the charity, four of whom were amputees.
ELoH was honoured to be the official charity of the match, which ended 4-1 to Blackburn, and were delighted to raise £430 in donations from the generous fans of both teams. The money will go towards ELoH’s life changing-work to provide low-cost prosthetics, vital operations, education, and social and psychological assistance for amputee children across the world. The fans’ generosity brings the charity one step closer to their goal of raising £3.5million over the next five years, to help 5,000 amputee children across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Peterborough United’s players sported ELoH t-shirts during their warm up before the fans welcomed the charity’s amputee mascots onto the pitch. Pollyanna Hope, one of the mascots, lost her leg in a bus accident when she was just two years old, and is part of the inspiration behind the charity. ELoH was co-founded by her mother Sarah Hope and Sarah’s sister, Victoria Bacon, in memory of their mother Elizabeth, who died in the accident.
Chris Williams, Managing Director of club sponsor Green Energy Parks, had nominated ELoH as charity of the match, which was broadcast live to thousands of fans on Sky TV.
See below a fantastic article that was published in the Herts advertiser about the event:
Sarah Hope, co-founder of ELoH said:
“We want to thank Green Energy Parks and Peterborough United for giving us the fantastic opportunity to be charity of the match. We are also so grateful to the fans for their generosity in supporting our work. With their help we can assist many more amputees around the world who do not have access to the care provisions that we have here in the UK.
“The children were so excited to be mascots and had a fantastic day. It was wonderful for them to have the chance to go on the pitch with the players and I think it touched the hearts of many in the crowd.”