A charity raffle launched by Kim and Andy Murray in memory of an Uckfield woman who died of ovarian cancer has raised £27,025 for St Peter and St James Hospice.
The raffle’s top prize was a tennis ball signed by Murray and late tennis legend, Fred Perry - the only known piece of tennis memorabilia signed by the two British Wimbledon champions.
Lucky winner, Oliver Refson, was invited to Wimbledon to receive the signed tennis ball from the Hospice’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Sue Adams.
Oliver, from Wells, was delighted with the prize. He said: “I feel so privileged to win such a rare and prestigious artefact. I am such a huge tennis fan and an avid player who watches the sport every chance I get.
“Andy Murray is my role model and I look up to him, which is why I can’t believe I have something like this in my possession.
“I have dreamed of going to Wimbledon and it was everything I was dreaming of, which was made so much better by the welcoming staff there.
“Also a large thank you to the hospice for making this all possible for me and making me feel so comfortable throughout the whole experience.”
Sue Adams, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at St Peter & St James Hospice, said: “The raffle has been such a wonderful event for the hospice and I cannot thank Kim and Andy Murray enough for their generosity, as well as the thousands of people who entered the raffle and donated.”
The second signed tennis ball is on display at Wimbledon for the public to view. The third ball lives with Andy and Kim Murray at home in Surrey.
To view the whole story behind the unique tennis ball, click {http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/county-news/andy-murray-s-priceless-gift-to-hospice-in-memory-of-uckfield-woman-1-6798370|here}.
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