Rochdale AFC are delighted to announce that the Club have become a Patron of the charity Edgar’s Gift.
Edgar’s Gift is a charity set up in 2010 in memory of Ben Edkins, who passed away following a yearlong fight with cancer. He was just 25 when he died after battling Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of muscle cancer.
The charity was founded by Ben’s parents Julie and Neil Bradman, alongside Ben’s family and friends – all of whom Ben influenced and had a special and positive effect on their lives.
Edgar’s Gift aims to raise money to enable us to provide special days out, unique experiences and luxury gifts for young adults aged 18-30 who are suffering from cancer.
Dale’s association with Edgar’s Gift stretches back to when former Dale man Peter Vincenti was with the Club.
He became a Patron of the charity in 2013, who regularly travelled north from Leicester to watch Peter in action for Dale.
Following Vincenti’s departure from the Club, Joe Thompson ensured the link between Edgar’s Gift and Dale remained, with Joe becoming a Patron himself.
The Dale Supporters Trust have also supported Edgar’s Gift during this time, most recently presenting them with a cheque for £250 at our home match against Wycombe Wanderers in April.
Now, the Club are delighted to become an official Patron of Edgar’s Gift and look forward to working even closer with them.
The Club will welcome the charity to a home match in our 2019/20 season, at which they will be holding a bucket collection around the Crown Oil Arena.
Neil Bradman, Trustee of Edgar’s Gift, said: “We started coming up to The Dale to support our Patron Pete Vincenti, but it didn’t take long for us to build other relationships within the Club.
“Our lasting contact with the Club has been Ian from the Dale Trust, who we got to know at the games and he has since become a friend.
“We are non-profit making, so all of the money received from the Dale Trust has gone to paying for a wish. Although we are based in Leicester, our affinity with the Club has meant that we have done four wishes up to now in the Rochdale area.
“The most recent one being when a cancer patient was able to go to our caravan in Mablethorpe for a free holiday with his children.
“We are looking forward to working closer with the Club in 2019/20 season. Up the Dale!”
Click HERE to visit Edgar’s Gift’s website and learn more about the fantastic work they carry out.