Liverpool star striker helps cancer hospital reach charity goal

Oct 23 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool FC's Peter Crouch with 12-year-old Jade Quirk at Clatterbridge Centre For Oncology _320

LIVERPOOL and England international Peter Crouch took the opportunity to rest his footballer’s feet yesterday when he visited the region’s leading cancer treatment hospital.

The star was at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology to help raise funds and awareness for the hospital charity.

During the visit, he took part in a question and answer session with some of the children and young adults receiving treatment at the Centre.

Executive director at the centre, Dawn Jennings, said they were all delighted the striker had taken time to visit the centre.

She said: “With Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology being a Merseyside hospital, football is a subject close to all of our hearts.

“We love the fact that Peter has taken the opportunity to meet with our patients and help us in promoting the work of the hospital charity.”

The hospital is currently focusing its fundraising efforts on refurbishing ward and plans to increase the number of private single rooms, particularly for the benefit of patients with young families.

Peter Crouch’s visit was part of a community initiative from the Premier League, Creating Chances, which aims to show the positive work of football in the community.

Ms Jennings said: “Coping with cancer and receiving treatment is a difficult time for any patient, their families and their friends.

“Visits from the likes of football heroes make the world of difference to lifting spirits creating some excitement within the centre.”

The centre provides specialist radiotherapy and chemotherapy services for the population of Merseyside, Cheshire, the Isle of Man, North Wales and South Lancashire.

Each year, more than 7,000 patients from this region are diagnosed with cancer and referred to the centre.