Blackpool Supporters Trust chose the Gary Parkinson Trust Fund as the charity their fundraising efforts were going to support.
At the end of the season a Gala Dinner was organised to celebrate five years since the team at Bloomfield Road were promoted into the Premier League with all the money raised going towards the Blackpool Youth coach.
The whole team and some of the staff made it to the evening as well as many of the Blackpool fans who were desperate to remember the amazing times as well as raising money for a man who is very special to everyone.
On 6th September fans from all of Parky’s clubs – Preston North End, Middlesbrough, Everton, Bolton and Burnley – as well as those at the Seaside were saddened to hear that he had suffered a severe stroke. The stroke left him with locked-in syndrome and he can currently only communicate with his family by moving his eyes.
At the Gala Dinner an auction and raffle raised over £5000 to help fund Gary Parkinson a new wheelchair which will greatly improve his life. Christine Seddon, the spokesperson of BST loved every minute of the night: “It was great to feel like real fans again.
“The Treasurer is still adding up the final total but the money raised by fans generosity will be over half of what was needed for the wheelchair.
“I understand that the wheelchair he requires is a specially adapted one to give him more independence – something that is so important for him but is, of course, a very costly item.”
Steve Thompson, former Blackpool caretaker manager and good friend of Gary and his wife Debby, was overwhelmed by the generosity of the fans: “It was a fantastic response from the Blackpool fans.
“All the fans of Parky’s clubs have been amazing. They have gone beyond their call of duty to help Parky. This event was the first one that Blackpool fans have held for him- not including all the little bits of fundraising that have been done- and for BST to have him as their chosen charity it is amazing.”
“He is still a member of Blackpool staff and the fans don’t forget that. These fans are special and the way they treat Parky and the way they have done the fundraising is just absolutely fantastic and that is what Blackpool is all about. Debby and Parky are so grateful to the fans and the staff and players go to see him.”
As well as the money raised by the fans, the players then chose graciously to put the remaining money in taking the total over £10,000. Thompson told us proudly: “When it went up so high by the fans I could see Charlie [Adam] talking to the players and to be honest with you it doesn’t surprise me with that group of players because they were so special.
“You will never have a group like that again. They are very loyal, they thought a lot of Blackpool Football Club and they felt a lot about Parky.
“They showed what a fantastic group and what amazing spirit they have got and it is really nice that the players have also not forgot him. I know they go to see him when they can and it’s just amazing. It’s what they are all about- the players don’t forget the good people and it makes me proud of each and everyone of them.
Christine added: “That squad of 2010 are certainly a special bunch of lads and I can’t see any team ever repeating what they managed to do, in the way they did it. It was very heartening to see what close friends they have all remained and how they were all so happy to come together to raise funds for Parky.”
With the money raised, the Parkinson family has been able to order the new wheelchair. Parkinson was we’ll loved across the Football League and the effort from clubs across the country has shown that.
[n5lbanner type=”london”]
[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]
[interaction id=“generic”]