Pictured: Pete and Emily Shaw, Kyle Edmund and Tim Johnson
The Fever-Tree Championships has chosen Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity) as its new charity partner for 2018. The tournament, hosted at The Queen's Club in London, will raise vital funds to support seriously ill children from across the UK who are cared for at the hospital.
The traditional pre-Wimbledon grass court tournament is set to feature its strongest line-up yet, including six of the world’s Top 10 players and British No.1 Kyle Edmund. GOSH Charity will be supported in a variety of ways, including the sale of used tournament balls from the official merchandise store, ticket resales, and through evening Ground Admission tickets.
A special text donation line has also been set up for tennis fans so they can simply text TENNIS to 70125 to donate £5. The tournament will provide some free tickets for GOSH patients, and two patients will have the opportunity to walk out as player mascots on Finals day.
The Fever-Tree Championships chose to support GOSH Charity after being inspired by the story of GOSH patients James and Isabel Shaw, and the incredible fundraising efforts of their parents Emily and Pete Shaw. James passed away at GOSH in October 2016, after developing a life-threatening condition at just five and half weeks old. Weeks later, his twin sister Isabel was rushed to GOSH with an unrelated, life-threatening condition and staff at the hospital saved her life.
The Shaw family has raised £180,000 so far to say thank you to GOSH for the dedicated care and support provided to James and Isabel, and the Fever-Tree Championships will join the Shaws in their efforts to help fund specialist equipment for surgical theatres at the hospital, helping to transform the lives of seriously ill children.
British No.1 Kyle Edmund, who is an ambassador for GOSH Charity and for the Shaw’s fundraising efforts, commented: “It's a great honour to be working with GOSH Charity and I’m delighted that such a prestigious tournament in the tennis calendar will raise funds for this fantastic cause too. I have been so moved by the story of James and Isabel and their family, and I hope everyone who comes to the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club will dig deep and show their support for the hospital which gave them such incredible care.”
Tim Johnson, Chief Executive of GOSH Charity says: “We are thrilled to partner with such a respected tournament as the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club. Its long history of excellence and dedication matches the commitment and expertise that staff at GOSH offer to seriously ill children from around the world. We’re hoping tennis fans will help us raise money towards specialist surgical equipment for the hospital, while soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the fabulous tennis on offer.”
Stephen Farrow, Tournament Director, Fever-Tree Championships, said: “As soon as we heard about the Shaw family’s experience from our British No.1 Kyle Edmund, we wanted to help, too. The work that Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital does is life-saving and life-changing for so many children and their families, not only in London but all over the country. We will be doing all we can as part of this partnership to support them in raising as much money as possible.”