World Record Raises £45K For Children’s Hospice

It’s been a year to remember for Stockport’s Nick Rose.

Already the top sales manager for Stockport headquartered Midshire Business Systems, he’s just been shortlisted for Stockport Business Person of the Year – and discovered his world record breaking football match raised a staggering £45,195.44 for Francis House.

Now, after organising and captaining the winning team in the gruelling 72 hour footy fundraiser back in May, and celebrating its success with a packed charity gala dinner at Manchester’s Football Museum, all sponsored by Midshire, he is pulling on his boots one more time.

While waiting for the Guinness adjudication on the F72 event, which finished with a score of 603 – 426, the soccer fan and super-fit salesman is already planning a reunion match in the Autumn.  The 36 men who took part in the F72 match – the equivalent of 48 ordinary matches back to back, will be relieved to hear that this time the game will be ‘just for fun.’

“I knew that I wanted the event to be football related, due to my passion for the sport. I’m also a fitness enthusiast, and so the ‘marathon’ element of the idea really appealed.  We set out to raise £25,000 and we’ve managed almost double that so I couldn’t be more delighted,” said Nick.

Speaking shortly after the match, where each player spent five hour stints on the pitch broken only with a one hour sleep break in tents around the touchline, Nick said: “We’re record holders in waiting.  We know we’ve done the time; it’s down to the Guinness Records people to examine our efforts and declare it a success.  I’m absolutely over the moon about this; it’s the best thing I’ve taken part in, in my life.  There were highs and lows but everyone supported each other.  The camaraderie was amazing, there was only really one team out there, every player looked out for others on the pitch, no matter which side they were playing for.”

Sponsorships for the epic sporting trial began with Midshire MD Julian Stafford pledging £5,000, and investment that has more than delivered for children’s hospice Francis House.

Midshire, which specialises in printers, copiers, scanners, document management and IT for offices and schools, went on to further support the event with marketing and headline sponsorship of the gala dinner.

Francis House fundraiser, Kate Puc, said: “If I was wearing a hat I’d take it off to these guys; a tremendous achievement having played 72 hours of football – they were amazing. Their camaraderie was second to none even through the cold nights.  Half way through they were hobbling and looked like they wouldn’t get there but through sheer determination to keep each other going they did. It’s a great achievement and I would like to say a big thank you for choosing Francis House: £45,195.44 is a wonderful boost for the charity.”

Thanks to a match funding scheme from Barclays Bank for its employees, the bank’s Corporate New Business Manager, Richard Symonds, who played in the match, brought the final total from £44,445.44 to £45,195.44.

Nick, 26, who lives with his wife, Vicky, in Stockport, will discover whether he’s scooped the Business Person of the Year Award in October.

Francis House was opened by Princess Diana in 1991.  The hospice provides appropriate care for children and young people with life threatening conditions and the necessary support and short-term rest for their families. The hospice helps over 240 families a year from all over the north west of England, when families come to Francis House they find a place of rest, fun and enjoyment in a comfortable home from home environment.  In 2012 work started on the construction of a seven bedroom extension to provide an age appropriate environment for teenagers and young people. Annual running costs for the extended Francis House will be £4.6 million.  To find out how you can help, or to donate, visit: www.francishouse.org.uk