Cricket tournament at Lord's raises £20,000 for mental health charity in Westminster

Date released: 3 July 2006

A cricket tournament at Lord's has raised £20,000 for a local mental health charity. The money will help Westminster MIND as it supports residents in the borough who have been experiencing mental illness.

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Alexander Nicoll, nominated the charity to benefit from the tournament - an annual joint venture between Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Westminster City Council.

In its five year history, the competition - which takes place in MCC's Indoor Cricket School - has now raised around £100,000 for local good causes.

Commenting on the tournament, the Lord Mayor said: "I was delighted to be involved in the recent Westminster Cricket Challenge Cup at Lord's. It was a fantastic day for all concerned with enthusiastic play, great fund-raising for my nominated charity, Westminster MIND, and the event taking place at the historic home of cricket. The representatives of Westminster MIND and I were overwhelmed by the magnificent sum raised as a result of the Westminster Cricket Challenge Cup. I know that, through the charity, the money will be put to very good use to help local people in Westminster who are suffering the scourge of mental illness."

MCC's Deputy Chief Executive, David Batts (see right above), said: "MCC was delighted that it could play its part in raising a such large sum for such a great cause. I would like to thank everyone who helped to stage another extremely successful tournament including Mike Gatting, who presented the trophies, and Jack Jacobs - a longstanding MCC Member - who always ensures that the tournament is both great fun and a tremendous fund-raising event for the local community."

The money was raised by corporate teams paying for the opportunity to play indoor cricket at Lord's and then watch one of Middlesex's matches in the Twenty20 Cup.

The cheque for £20,000 was presented to Margaret Kesterton (of Westminster MIND) by Robin Marlar (MCC's President), Jack Jacobs, the Lord Mayor, David Batts and Mike Gatting (see right above) - the ex-England captain.