Strip for charity

12/07/2007

A North East football fan’s has seen his childhood dream come true at home and helped to save lives away.

Forty-three-year old Craig Smith, who was born in Wideopen, Newcastle, and now lives in Alnwick, has been presented with a signed Newcastle United shirt from his hero, Peter Beardsley, after he scored the winning bid for the shirt in an auction at a charity event.

Craig, who has been a Newcastle United fanatic for more than 40 years and works for the RAF based at Boulmer, Northumberland was delighted to meet the ex-England player at St James’ Park to receive his prize bit of kit.

Craig said: “I’ve been a Newcastle United supported all of my life and am delighted to have met Peter Beardsley on the hallowed turf.  He is, in my opinion, the best footballer Newcastle United has ever seen.

“I won the shirt at a WaterAid summer ball after bidding £155, which will save ten lives.  I’m very proud to be a supporter of WaterAid as we have a house in South Africa so are acutely aware of the problems caused when people have no clean water and sanitation.  Everyone is entitled to the basic human right of clean water.”

The WaterAid Ball, which was organised by Northumbrian Water raised more than £20,000.  This money will directly help to save nearly 2,000 lives by providing clean, safe drinking water, effective sanitation and hygiene education in Africa and Asia.

To find out more about the charity, WaterAid, contact Julie Wilson on 0191 301 6713, email wateraid@nwl.co.uk or log onto www.nwl.co.uk/wateraid.aspx

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For further information contact Carolyn King on 0191 301 6722.