Liverpool FC fans launch fundraising drive for legend Ray Kennedy

Jan 29 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Ray Kennedy

AN APPEAL to raise funds for Liverpool FC legend Ray Kennedy has been launched by fans to assist his battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

A variety of fund-raising events are expected to take place in the next few months, including a dash around all 92 football league clubs.

Kennedy has received little financial aid since his 1991 testimonial between Liverpool and Arsenal, the club where he began his career, and in 1993 he was forced to sell his winners’ medals in order to pay for medical help for the disease.

He was diagnosed with the disease, which attacks the body’s central nervous system and can affect movement and speech, at the age of 35.

“He had probably the best left foot I’ve ever seen at Anfield,” said Karl Coppack, organiser of the campaign and writer for Liverpool fanzine Through The Wind And Rain.

“He was always my favourite player, and there aren’t many people who’ve got more European honours than he has.

“The plan is to do a dash around all 92 grounds in seven days, shortly after the game against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

“Arsenal are being very proactive about fundraising, and we’re hoping to organise a kickabout between the rival fanzines shortly before the match.

“The response so far has been overwhelming, we’ve already had a donation of $2,700 from the Liverpool New York Supporters Club.

“Ray has had to sell all his medals and lives in a bungalow paid for by his testimonial and, with all this talk of club takeovers, it puts things in perspective. Ten percent of everything we raise will be going to the Parkinson’s Disease Society, so the money will be helping others as well as Ray.”

Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development for the Parkinson’s Disease Society, said: “Parkinson’s is a very individual condition which affects suffers in different ways.

“The three main effects are tremors, slowness of movement and stiff muscles, but the disease can also cause slurred speech and depression.

The disease affects 120,000 people in the UK, with one in 20 of those diagnosed are under 40.”

Kennedy’s illustrious career saw him win every domestic league and cup trophy throughout the 1970s and 1980s, along with three European Cups, a UEFA Cup and a European Super Cup.

Kennedy scored 72 goals in 393 appearances for the Reds, and was instrumental in their European successes, scoring a crucial goal against Bayern Munich which took the club to their third European Cup Final in 1981.

FOR more information on how to make a donation, email rayofhopeappeal@hotmail.co.uk.

For more information on Parkinson’s Disease, visit www.parkinsons.org.uk or call 0808 800 0303.