Grenfell charity match raises £454k for victims
SURVIVORS of the Grenfell Tower fire will receive a £454,000 payout from the #Game4Grenfell — almost £3,300 per family — as the total raised from the community match at Loftus Road on September 2 was revealed today.
The £908,000 made on the day includes £454,000 from gate, text-todonate and online receipts, and £454,000 from the Royal Borough of Kensing ton and Chelsea, which pledged to double the amount raised.
Survivors will receive their half-share via The London Community Foundation and the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund. The other half will go to community projects to benefit the wider north Kensington community.
QPR co-chairman Tony Fernandes, who first proposed the idea of a charity match together with director of football Les Ferdinand and Columbia Records UK president Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, said he was proud that the community had come together to show solidarity with the Grenfell survivors.
He said: “I’ve seen a lot in my time, but the way west London and the wider community united for a #Game4Grenfell will remain with me for ever. The fact that we’ve managed to raise so much money to not only help survivors but the broader community makes it extra special.”
Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford & Sons who helped co-ordinate the match and played a key role in the free summer football programme for Grenfell residents, said: “Our focus is on creating a legacy for Grenfell and the community. The money raised for community projects will be key in driving this forward.”
Two teams of celebrities and footballers took part in the game at Loftus Road, just a mile from Grenfell Tower, with Team Ferdinand beating a side captained by Alan Shearer. Celebrities included Mumford, Mo Farah and Damian Lewis, while former players who turned out were David James, Trevor Sinclair and Jamie Redknapp. Pop star Cheryl also made her first official appearance since becoming a mother, joining exGirls Aloud bandmate Nicola Roberts on the pitch.