Spurs players score for children’s hospice fundraiser

Football legends from Spurs and Wimbledon helped a charity golf bash raise £100,000 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet.

Tottenham’s Ossie Ardiles, David Howells and Pat Jennings were at the fundraiser along with Wimbledon’s Dave Beasant for a day of golfing and to meet a hospice dad whose 12-year-old son has been treated there since birth.

Roscoe Mahoney, who has twin boys, spoke about his experiences at the hospice.

“Noah’s Ark is very dear to me and a huge part of my life,” he said. “Spurs are also in my DNA! I was so grateful to join this golf day and to meet the soccer legends.”

Roscoe and his wife Gina have twins Ray and Arthur who have been helped by Noah’s Ark since they were babies.

Ray suffered a bleed on his brain when he was born, which affected his development. Yet his personality was able to shine through, Roscoe said.

Noah’s Ark helps babies and children with life-limiting or threatening conditions and supports their families to make the most of every day.

But it needs £6 million a year to keep its palliative services up and running, with 93 per cent coming from voluntary donations.

Noah’s Ark chief executive Sophie Andrews said: “Our supporters bought tickets to hear a personal story from a dad who spoke movingly about the support his family receives from us.”

The fundraising included a lunch at Watford’s Grove Hotel and an auction with prizes such as a round at Centurion with Ossie Ardiles, a round at Sunningdale Golf Club with Man United’s Steve Coppell and a Noah’s Ark T-shirt signed by Tottenham’s first team from their north London derby match against Arsenal in April.

David Howells, a Premier League midfielder who played 277 matches for Spurs, said: “We met some wonderful people at the golf day, all for a brilliant cause supporting the work of the children’s hospice.”

The hospice in Byng Road, High Barnet, takes referrals from the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington as well as from neighbouring Hertsmere in south Hertfordshire. Details on the “noahsarkhospice.org.uk” website.