Burton Albion Football Club

Burton Albion were delighted to recently stage two fundraising events for worthy local causes.

The first night, a ‘Comedy and Curry night’, arranged by Paul Calladine, was set-up to raise money for the British Heart Foundation through the KC Trust, of which Paul is founder.

The KC Trust was set up in 2013 in memory of Keith Calladine – Paul’s father, who sadly suffered a heart attack and passed away on 28th March 2012. Keith had suffered heart problems throughout most of his adult life, but was given a boost when he underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery at Papworth hospital, Cambridge in 2010.

As well as organising a first Comedy and Curry night, Paul has taken part in the London, Edinburgh and Portsmouth marathons to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and the nurses at Papworth hospital, who had looked after Keith in his time there. 

The aim of the KC Trust is to install heart defibrillators both locally and rurally. So far the Trust has raised enough money for four that have been installed, seven are on order and there is already funding for around eight more. The aim of the KC Trust is to make heart defibrillators as commonplace as fire extinguishers.

The Trust has been helped by some local and national business, these include Kevin Cartwright of Computer Lines, Sam Dolman of Florist Gate, Andy of Barker’s Butchers, Molson Coors, and the general public who have given time and donations to the Trust.

With this year’s now-annual Comedy and Curry night taking place recently at the Pirelli Stadium, it was followed the next day by the Burton Albion Community Trust’s ‘Comedy and Cuisine night’ to raise funds for the BACT’s trip to Ghana. There were over 500 people in attendance across the two nights, ensuring sell-out crowds for both events..

The Burton Albion Community Trust’s trip to Ghana takes place in May, and involves 15 Trust volunteers spending ten days in rural Ghana volunteering with local schools.

Each member of the trip has had to raise £2,500, which mainly covers the cost of the trip and the funding to help the schools. Some of the money raised will also go back to local projects back home, supporting the Trust’s social inclusion work throughout East Staffordshire.

So far, the KC Trust has raised £10,000 for the installation of heart defibrillators to local areas, and the BACT Ghana Trip hopes to make a lasting impact on the local children in Ghana.

To donate to either cause, email paul.calladine@molsocoors.com and the BACT’s JustGiving page, which is www.JustGiving.com/BACT.