We created a Lager Cricket Festival to support our Manc dad who has motor neurone disease
A family say they have been left “truly humbled” after a cricket club staged its first-ever Lager Cricket Festival in their honour.
Woodbank Cricket Club in Brandlesholme has declared the bank holiday Monday event – which saw amateur cricketers take to the field – a resounding success.
The sun came out, the beer was flowing and the runs just didn’t stop coming as nine teams competed in the fun tournament.
The event, organised following the club’s successful Prosecco Cricket Festival, raised money to support club member Paul Minor and his family following his motor neurone disease diagnosis. The final total is still being counted.
Members and players stepped up to organise the event, run stalls, umpire and score matches on the day, which ran all afternoon and into the evening.
The fiercely fought festival saw Woodbank Legends eventually crowned winners in an entertaining final against Cricket Genie, in front of a crowd of hundreds.
The Minor family, whose sons play for the club’s junior and senior teams, need to make vital alterations to their home that aren’t eligible for local authority funding.
Paul Minor, who served in the military and as a firefighter, was diagnosed with MND, which affects the brain and spinal cord, in July 2022. Determined to remain independent for as long as possible, he now requires ground-floor living, some of which will be funded by MND and work-related charities, but there is still a large deficit.
Paul, who attended the festival, thanked everyone for their support in organising and taking part.
He said: “I and my family would like to say thanks from the bottom of our hearts for everyone’s generosity. It is truly humbling. From day one when we joined this cricket club, two years ago, we were struck by how welcoming and community-centred it was. We will be eternally grateful to the club for doing this for us.
“I have had the privilege in my life to be part of some amazing organisations containing incredible people and I do not say this lightly when I say that this cricket club is well up there near the top.
“That is all down to the amazing people involved at this club. I want to thank them again for everything they’ve done but, more importantly, for making us, as a family, feel part of the Woodbank Cricket Club family.”
Helen Smethurst, a member of the fundraising committee, said they were overwhelmed with the response to the event.
She said: “It was great to see hundreds of people at the club supporting our Lager Cricket Festival and helping to raise money for such a deserving cause.
“When we first had the idea, we knew the Woodbank community would step up to support us in whichever way they could, from helping on the day, donating prizes or coming along to support the teams.
“The money is still being counted but we know we’ve all raised a fantastic amount to support Paul and his family as well as giving everyone a day to remember.”
To donate to the family’s Go Fund Me page, visit https://gofund.me/e62216b6