Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice is encouraging fans to dig deep as the charity partners with the Sheffield United Football Club for its upcoming match against Arsenal at Bramall Lane.

In ordinary times Bluebell Wood would have an army of dedicated volunteers with collection buckets at the ground to raise much-needed funds - but this time the collection has gone virtual.

So the charity is urging fans to donate the price of their pie, pint, ticket or even Blades shirt to help local families make precious memories at Bluebell Wood here 

Families like Sheffield United super-fan Theo Singh-Eyley, who sadly passed away at the hospice after  battling numerous complex medical conditions all his life.

Theo died at Bluebell Wood, surrounded by his loving family, in 2018 at just 11-years-old. Despite all the challenges he faced, courageous and cheeky Theo always had a smile on his face and he loved Sheffield United. He even met two of his Blades heroes, Billy Sharp and Chris Morgan, before he passed away. Theo was supported by Bluebell Wood most of his life and made some incredible memories with his family at the hospice, before they gathered to say their heartbreaking final goodbyes.

“Bluebell Wood is such an amazing place and I can’t thank them enough for all their support throughout Theo’s life,” said Theo’s mum, Denise Singh-Eyley, from Chesterfield.

“When it came to saying goodbye to Theo, we were able to have the whole family there and that meant the world to us. It’s just such a special place and we couldn’t have had a better experience under the circumstances.”

So whatever the result against the Gunners on April 11th, fans can make sure children and families supported by Bluebell Wood are the real winners.

As well as watching the match live on TV, you can follow all the fundraising action on social media by searching Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice on Facebook and Twitter.

Samantha Wood, Head of Fundraising at Bluebell Wood, said: “It’s safe to say we’ve all missed the atmosphere and the roar of the crowds these past 12 months.

“Not least our brilliant volunteers who would have loved to have been at the match with their collection buckets, meeting all the wonderful characters at Bramall Lane.

 “The funds we raise on match days are incredibly important to us as a charity, and it’s something we’ve sorely missed throughout the pandemic.

“So we’re very much looking forward to seeing what Sheffield United Football Club and its amazing fans, who are always very generous and supportive of our work, have in store for us this week.

“Each and every penny we raise will help us to make memories that families like Theo’s will always treasure, as well as being there for them in those devastating final moments and beyond.”

Bluebell Wood supports families whose time together is sadly too short, across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire. 

It costs almost £14,000 each day to keep the hospice doors open, so after a year in which much of its fundraising activity has been cancelled or postponed, the support of the communities it serves is more important than ever.