The Albion Roar
97.2FM
The committee of the Robert Eaton Memorial Fund (REMF) has unanimously decided to wind down all fundraising operations, with a view to closing the charity on January 31st 2024.
This will bring to a close over 22 years of fundraising in order to donate kit and equipment to youth and children’s sports clubs around the world.
The REMF committee would like to place on record its heartfelt and eternal thanks to everyone who participated, contributed, sponsored, donated, had a friendly wager and raised funds on behalf of the charity since its inception in 2001.
Robert Eaton was a Brighton & Hove Albion fan who died in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001. A charity was set up in his name, initially with a football match between fans of Brighton and Crystal Palace to raise funds for football projects within the Hispanic communities in Queens, New York.
That charity has blossomed over the past two decades, with volunteers organising many fundraising events. In this time, over £330,000 has been donated to a wide variety of youth clubs and projects, mostly in Sussex, though with beneficiaries across the UK, and further afield in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East and Africa.
However, the committee feels that the charity has now run its course. There will be one more fundraising event before the charity’s closure - the 21st and final REMF Challenge Trophy match. Details of this fixture will be announced shortly.
Angela Ridge, Judith Lake and Barbara Stephenson, Robert’s sisters, agreed that the time was right, especially with the recent passing of their father, Douglas - himself a keen support of the charity. They commented: “It has been a source of immense pride and satisfaction that, out of something so horrific, this charity would be such a force for good for so long - all in our brother’s name. We know it gave our parents great comfort with all the hard work being put in by so many volunteers.”
Mike Langridge, REMF chairman, said: “After 22 amazing years, we feel the charity has done all it can. It is time to close REMF, and I can only say, from a personal point of view, what a privilege it has been to have been chairman for such an uplifting and worthwhile cause.”
For the last word, REMF vice-chairman, and manager of the Brighton REMF team, Brett Mendoza, said: “I feel so proud to have been a part of something so great, to have raised so much money for the charity, and to have hopefully made a difference for so many people. It’s a great charity, but all good things must eventually come to an end. I will miss it.”
Youth clubs and children’s sports clubs are invited to apply for funding while the charity is still functioning, and any remaining funds will be donated to a project or charity of the committee’s choosing nearer the January deadline.
ENDS
This will bring to a close over 22 years of fundraising in order to donate kit and equipment to youth and children’s sports clubs around the world.
The REMF committee would like to place on record its heartfelt and eternal thanks to everyone who participated, contributed, sponsored, donated, had a friendly wager and raised funds on behalf of the charity since its inception in 2001.
Robert Eaton was a Brighton & Hove Albion fan who died in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001. A charity was set up in his name, initially with a football match between fans of Brighton and Crystal Palace to raise funds for football projects within the Hispanic communities in Queens, New York.
That charity has blossomed over the past two decades, with volunteers organising many fundraising events. In this time, over £330,000 has been donated to a wide variety of youth clubs and projects, mostly in Sussex, though with beneficiaries across the UK, and further afield in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East and Africa.
However, the committee feels that the charity has now run its course. There will be one more fundraising event before the charity’s closure - the 21st and final REMF Challenge Trophy match. Details of this fixture will be announced shortly.
Angela Ridge, Judith Lake and Barbara Stephenson, Robert’s sisters, agreed that the time was right, especially with the recent passing of their father, Douglas - himself a keen support of the charity. They commented: “It has been a source of immense pride and satisfaction that, out of something so horrific, this charity would be such a force for good for so long - all in our brother’s name. We know it gave our parents great comfort with all the hard work being put in by so many volunteers.”
Mike Langridge, REMF chairman, said: “After 22 amazing years, we feel the charity has done all it can. It is time to close REMF, and I can only say, from a personal point of view, what a privilege it has been to have been chairman for such an uplifting and worthwhile cause.”
For the last word, REMF vice-chairman, and manager of the Brighton REMF team, Brett Mendoza, said: “I feel so proud to have been a part of something so great, to have raised so much money for the charity, and to have hopefully made a difference for so many people. It’s a great charity, but all good things must eventually come to an end. I will miss it.”
Youth clubs and children’s sports clubs are invited to apply for funding while the charity is still functioning, and any remaining funds will be donated to a project or charity of the committee’s choosing nearer the January deadline.
ENDS
