Perfect Match 2015: Merseyside Blind FC take part in training session with Liverpool FC for Seeing is Believing
Members of Merseyside Blind FC were invited to Melwood Training Ground recently to take part in a special training session to raise awareness of Standard Chartered’s global charitable initiative Seeing is Believing, which aims to tackle avoidable blindness.
Eight players from the squad joined Steven Gerrard, Mamadou Sakho, Adam Lallana and Simon Mignolet for a unique training session led by five of Merseyside Blind FC’s coaches, which included a skills and drills session and a penalty shoot-out. During the session all players wore blindfolds and were guided by the coaching staff.
Talking about the day LFC’s Captain, Steven Gerrard, said: “Training with the lads and coaches from Merseyside Blind FC’s squad was fantastic. They’re all really talented players and it’s amazing to see how they maximise their other senses in order to perform at their best.”
Merseyside Blind FC player and member of Team GB for the 2012 Paralympic games, Roy Turnham, added: “It was such an amazing opportunity for me and the team to visit Melwood and get the chance to train with Gerrard, Sakho, Lallana and Mignolet. It’s something that will stay with us all for life.
“I would like to thank Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered for inviting us along to Melwood and hosting us for a very special afternoon to raise awareness for such a great cause.”
The Club’s official charity, Liverpool FC Foundation helped to co-ordinate the visit and training session, which formed part of the Club’s official sponsor’s Seeing is Believing initiative, which aims to prevent and treat avoidable blindness and transform the lives of many children and adults across the world.
Through simple treatments and affordable surgeries, the initiative, which the Bank has been supporting for over a decade, aims to benefit not only those who receive treatment, but also their families. It is one of the most cost-effective health interventions with a cataract operation, for instance, costing as little as £20 in some countries.
There are 39 million blind people worldwide, yet in eight out of ten cases, blindness can be avoided. Ninety per cent of avoidable blindness occurs in the developing world, affecting many communities where Standard Chartered operates.
David Fein, Group General Counsel at Standard Chartered and Chairman of Seeing is Believing said: “It’s great to have the support of the Liverpool FC players and the local community to help raise awareness of this important cause.
“This is an issue that has a huge impact on many individuals’ lives across the world which is why it remains close to people’s hearts.”
For the fourth consecutive year Liverpool FC will replace the Standard Chartered logo on their shirts with the Seeing is Believing logo at the fixture against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Tuesday 10th February 2015 to raise awareness of avoidable blindness.
A week-long auction on eBay will follow the game, where five limited edition player shirts from the match will be signed and available for fans to bid on to raise money for Seeing is Believing. All donations will be matched by Standard Chartered, making this fixture the ‘Perfect Match’, with the Club and its sponsor coming together to support an important cause.
Fans can head to www.eBay.co.uk/perfectmatch to bid for the limited edition shirts from Friday 13th – Friday 20th January 2015.
For further information, please contact:
Liverpool FC PR Office
pr@liverpoolfc.com
+44 151 432 5686
Chantal Hadley
External Communications Officer
Standard Chartered Bank
chantal.hadley@sc.com
+44 207 885 6429
Notes to Editors:
Standard Chartered’s sponsorship of Liverpool FC
On 14th September 2009, Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered Bank announced a four-year deal which saw the Bank become the Club’s main sponsor from the beginning of the 2010/11 season. In July 2013, a two-year extension was announced, lasting until the end of the 2015/16 season.
Liverpool Football Club
Founded in 1892, Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs, having won 18 League Titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, three European Super Cups and 15 Charity Shields.
As a socially responsible business, Liverpool FC is proud of its heritage and plays a proactive role in its communities through its official charity, Liverpool FC Foundation. By delivering a range of award-winning programmes, the Foundation motivates and inspires children and adults, both at home and overseas, using football and the power of the Liverpool FC badge. Its contribution has been recognised by the award of a Community Mark from Business In The Community.
Liverpool FC is a global brand and works with leading edge commercial partners around the world providing unparalleled commercial opportunities.
Seeing is Believing
Seeing is Believing is a global initiative to tackle avoidable blindness, and is a collaboration between Standard Chartered and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and its membership of eye health organisations.
For more than a decade Seeing is Believing has been supporting projects to tackle avoidable blindness and visual impairment. To date, Seeing is Believing has raised over USD79 million against its target of USD100 million by 2020. Funds raised through Seeing is Believing represent the single largest cash contribution from the private sector to the development of eye health programmes through IAPB. As part of the Seeing is Believing programme, Standard Chartered pledges to match all donations until the target of USD100 million is reached.