Chiefs to honour NHS with special match-day
By Mark Stevens
29/9/21
Exeter Rugby Club are to honour the hard work and dedication of the NHS by dedicating their upcoming Gallagher Premiership fixture against Worcester Warriors in honour of all those healthcare heroes who have worked above and beyond during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Across the world, all of our lives have been changed forever, but throughout it all NHS staff up and down the length of the country have continued to deliver day in, day out, providing 24/7 care across the board.
Here at the Chiefs, we wanted to recognise those efforts in some way, not just in terms of providing over 3,000 tickets, which have been generated for NHS staff, volunteers and their families, but by also raising funds from the match-day itself, all of which will go to the NHS Charity.
As part of those fundraising efforts, a unique, one-off Exeter Chiefs NHS kit, which will be worn for the Round Five fixture, has been produced for the game, which will take place at Sandy Park on Saturday, October 9.
The design of the kit was inspired through our #lookgoodchiefs competition, which we ran in April 2020, where we asked fans of all ages to design their very own Exeter Chiefs playing kit. After hundreds of entries, it was Richard Bolt’s rainbow-inspired kit that was selected as our overall winner.
Modelled here by first-team stars Jack Maunder and Joe Simmonds, the kit will be worn during the game, after which it will be washed and then signed by the match-day squad before being put up for auction.
Also helping to bolster the charitable coffers, the Chiefs will be selling 300 limited edition t-shirts, which replicate the kit itself, as well as special Exeter Chiefs NHS badges. Both of these products will be available from the Trading Post on Monday.
In the build-up to kick-off, Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive, Tony Rowe OBE, will give a short address to those in attendance at the game, followed by a minute’s applause.
“In what have been – and continue to be – challenging times for all of us, everyone connected with Exeter Rugby Club felt it only right that we honour the outstanding efforts that our NHS staff have provided,” said Mr Rowe. “Our upcoming NHS Day here at Sandy Park is not only a small gesture by ourselves to thanks all of those personnel who have given so much, but it’s also our chance to raise vital funds for what is undoubtedly a worthwhile cause.
“Everyone has been affected by this pandemic in one shape or another and without the support of the NHS we would not be in the position that we find ourselves today. This is our opportunity to salute each and every one of these heroes and I hope not only our fans, but the wider public get behind our fundraising efforts.”
Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive of the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, added: “It has been an extremely challenging 18 months for the RD&E team and the thing that has really made the biggest difference to us has been the thanks and support from our local community. We are so proud of having Exeter Chiefs as our neighbours and we are very grateful and honoured to be recognised by the team at this special game.”