SATURDAY night saw Celtic FC Foundation return to St Anne’s Primary School in Whitechapel for a third consecutive year for the Celtic Sleep Out, London event. Supporters once again turned up in their numbers to spend the night outdoors, battling the elements– from 9.00pm until 5.00am on Sunday morning.
Through their efforts, the group are on course to raise a magnificent total in the region of £10,000. There is still time to support the Celtic Sleep Out, London team and donations can be made online HERE
Participants arrived at 8.30pm and were welcomed into St Anne’s Church for the introduction and briefing elements of the event, not only by members of the Foundation team but also by Parish Priest, Father Paulo Bagini, who had very generously arranged hot drinks and sandwiches for the group.
Before getting settled in for the night, the group received a surprise video call from none other than Celtic Captain, Scott Brown. Scott wished participants the best of luck and thanked them for all of their efforts in support of this year’s Christmas Appeal. We would like to thank Scott once again for kindly giving up his time on Saturday night as his message proved to be a huge boost for our volunteers as they faced the night ahead. Captain. Leader. Legend.
With everyone is high spirits, it was then time to make the short walk across the road to St Anne’s Primary School, where participants would spend the next eight hours, braving the cold – all for a good cause.
Both the Church and School hold huge historical and emotional significance for the Celtic Family. In 1892, five years after his leading role in the formation of Celtic Football Club, the Marist Order moved Brother Walfrid from Glasgow, to the Whitechapel area of London’s East End.
Over the next 15 years, as Head Teacher at St Anne’s Primary, Brother Walfrid transformed the school and also established local boys’ clubs and a project to provide meals to the poor in the local community.
Both St Anne’s Primary School and Church will benefit from the proceeds raised through this year’s Appeal. We would like to extend our great thanks to St Anne’s Primary School – Head Teacher, Sheila Mouna and School Premises Manager, Keith Rashid – and to St Anne’s Church – Father Paulo and his volunteers – who once again kindly allowed us to host the Celtic Sleep Out, London within their facilities. Without their continued support, we simply could not deliver the event.
As always, Celtic Supporters’ Clubs were extremely well represented at the event, with members of Hayes Bhoys CSC, London Underground CSC, Maidenhead CSC, North West London CSC, Ramsgate Emerald CSC, Reading Martin O’Neill CSC and Wimbledon CSC all in attendance, as well a host of individual fans who took on the challenge.
Despite some challenging conditions faced throughout the night, our participants continued to remain upbeat throughout and as the event came to a close around 5am, the group gathered for the now customary, London Sleep Out rendition of ‘Let’s all do the Huddle’.
We would like to thank all of our Sleep Out participants for their wonderful efforts, as well as everyone who has sponsored them and provided support along the way. Their efforts will play a pivotal role in helping to deliver this year’s Appeal.
Through the appeal we’re aiming to honour the founding principles set out when the club was formed back in 1887, by continuing to help those in our community, who are most in need. We want to help hundreds of local families facing poverty by giving them the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted.
We also want to support pensioners on our doorstep and help out local charities. We can make a massive difference to the lives of children, the homeless, refugees and those living in refuge or facing other challenges.
Christmas is a time to give and share. And the Glasgow Celtic will be there.
To get behind the Christmas Appeal 2019, you can:
- Donate by Text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
- Donate Online
- Donate via PayPal – www.CelticChristmasAppeal.com
- Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
- Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.
- Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and Amazon Smile – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17086
- Contribute via our Christmas Appeal eBay auction which will take place between Thursday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 10.
- Make a donation to receive your ‘Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa’ – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17114
- Support our match-day bucket collection on Sunday, December 15 – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17171
- Purchase the original song from this year’s Celtic Christmas advert, ‘Star Of Glasgow’s Green & White’ HERE. Proceeds will support our 2019 Appeal.
Thank you for your magnificent support.
*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.
