Jason’s on the ball for charity

Ballymena Halifax branch customer adviser, Jason McPeake is presented with a football signed by the Manchester United first team squad by Club representative, Dominic. The football was among a number of highly desirable sports merchandise auctioned off by Jason on Saturday to raise funds for Children in Need. Also pictured are - Michael Steinberg, Stephen Bailie and David Steenson who took part in a fundraising football match for the charity at Ballymena Showgrounds on May 24, (Submitted Picture).

Held in the Adair Arms Hotel on Saturday, with kind permission of the management, the fundraiser for Children In Need saw a host of sports related items go under the hammer including a personalised shirt signed by Wayne Rooney, a signed Rangers’ football, signed Celtic photos, a pennant signed by ‘Spurs and a signed Mark Allen snooker cue.

The auction, which also featured a raffle for over 30 prizes, was organised in tandem with a charity football match at the Showgrounds’ 3G pitch the previous weekend from which proceeds are also going to ‘Children in Need’.

Both were organised by Jason McPeake, a customer advisor with Ballymena Halifax.

Jason McPeake, organiser of the fundraising auction and football match in aid of Children in Need and winning team captain, receives the trophy fromTristan Law. (Submitted Picture).

Each year, the building society encourages staff to fundraise for their chosen charity and rising to that call, Jason gathered an enthusiastic bunch of amateur players to join in a sponsored 11-a-side game of football and decided to follow that up with an auction of donated items of sports memorabilia.

Jason has thanked everyone who provided sponsorship, made donations or other support for the auction or the match, which saw the Pudsey Allstars beat Pudsey Athletic 9-2.

He has also extended thanks to Style n Sport for supplying shorts and socks at short notice, also Brian Leitch who acted as referee and, special guest for the day Tristan Law, who presented the ‘Man of the Match’ award to Scott Lester of Pudsey Allstars.

With a final total yet to be confirmed but with £1,500 raised so far from the match alone, Jason says he is hopeful that the duo of events will culminate in around £3,000 being raised for the charity.