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PLAY
SQUASH FOR KIDS
Neil Harvey's Polish Projects ... |
Play Squash for Kids
23rd Sep 2006
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 I
have been working for the Children's Fantasy Foundation for
terminally-ill children in Poland part time for the past three
years.
In the mid 80s I played and worked for Cannons sports clubs that was
managed by a guy named Garry Oliver who sponsored me to make a
successful comeback after an 18 month lay off.
I met up with him at the British Open 4 years ago and he asked if I
could spare him a few days a month which I immediately agreed to. |
Childrens Fantasy Foundation
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 "I
am delighted that Neil Harvey is taking Peter Nicol and Chris Walker
to Poland to help promote the sport .
"We at the WSF are always looking for new squash playing countries
and this is a unique opportunity for the squash fans of Poland to
see what professional squash is all about. I have spoken at length
with Neil about the foundation for terminally ill kids that he works
for and admire and respect the work that he is doing.
"Ours is such a great sport both competitively and socially that to
be associated with this project is simply fantastic and I hope you
raise a vast sum of money on the day and with the subsequent PLAY
SQUASH FOR KIDS campaign to make many many children's wishes come
true."
Jahangir Khan
WSF president |
 Andy
Bunting, my long time sponsor and supporter of all my
charity events, is providing some auction prizes and once
again I thank him for such generous support through both
Prince and his own personal time contribution, I know he is
very disappointed not to be able to come to the event.
But most I am in huge debt to two players who I have had the
privilege of coaching during the past 15 years who whenever I
ask to do anything, absolutely anything, have never hesitated
to say 'yes I would love to help'.
Peter
Nicol & Chris Walker
photo SESRA
Chris Walker retired a couple of years back and Peter Nicol,
who I watched retire at the pyramids last week, have not only
both given everything to squash competitively but are the
first people to help give back to the game, and I thank you
both from the bottom of my heart.
Neil Harvey |
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MEET THE GOALIE
I was to be in charge of the overseas wishes and I fulfilled my
first wish in February 2003 bringing two kids to London and then to
Liverpool to meet the Liverpool football team especially their great
Polish goalkeeping hero Jerzy Dudek.
 Ironically
he has become an even bigger celebrity after his extraordinary
performance in Liverpool's European Cup success two seasons ago when
he made the incredible save from Andre Schevchenko and the penalties
in extra time.
Anyway at the time he was the guy we went to meet. He was simply
terrific with the kids introducing them to all the players and
arranging autographs and memorabilia for Marcin and Karolina.
Video clip to follow |
TWO LITTLE STARS
Karolina had had a brain tumour from birth and unbeknown to us had
been hanging on for the two months prior that it took to organise
the trip and tragically she died in my arms that night, having said
to her mother that this was the only happy days in her life.
The reaction of her parents having seen that happiness for the first
and only time left them feeling that they had given her something
special (they were from an incredibly poor family) and so the
foundation became widely known all over Poland as the press picked
up on the wonderful human interest story, totally endorsed by the
family who said they wanted as many terminally ill kids to benefit
from having their wishes come true. |
WISHES
COME TRUE
To date we have now done over 300 wishes that range from digital
cameras to mobile phones, computers, teddy bears, a trip to see
grandparents, to see the sea, the mountains as well as the big
wishes that I organise.
 The
big wishes are all filmed to help promote the foundation with the
corporate companies and a copy is given to the families as a
keepsake.
The spin offs have been amazing as on a couple of occasions we have
managed to reunite families and several kids having lost the will
and motivation to live have now learnt to enjoy the rest of their
lives, live a full life and have started little projects of their
own to help other kids.
The money that comes into the foundation is sporadic and doesn't
help us to plan our budgets consistently and we kind of live hand to
mouth when it comes to doing the big wishes, so I have put two major
schemes into place to help alleviate this problem: |
CHECK OUT FOR
KIDS
This project is already in operation, where hotel guests
automatically leave a small tip on every room bill.
PLAY
SQUASH FOR KIDS
 This
project is being launched by Chris Walker and Peter Nicol
on the 23rd of September at Studio Calypso, Wola Park in
Warsaw.
The boys will be playing 10 polish players who will have bid on the
internet a sum of money to secure their place on the day, and then
they will play an exhibition match against each other to show the
Poles what squash is all about. |
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MAKE YOUR BIDS
TO PLAY PETE OR CHRIS
(on Ebay in Poland) |
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