Blue and White Day celebrates work of Albion in the Community
Sussex turned blue and white for the day as businesses, schools and Brighton & Hove Albion fans celebrated the work of Albion in the Community (AITC).
AITC held its second annual Blue and White Day fundraising event last Friday, with the charity encouraging people to wear blue and white to work or school for the day in return for a small donation.
More than 40 businesses and schools took part, including American Express, which celebrated Blue and White Day at its offices in Brighton and Burgess Hill. Amex also hosted a visit from Albion stars Jose Izquierdo, Dan Burn, David Button, Emily Simpkins and Victoria Williams at its John Street offices, while colleagues organised a raffle and staff quiz to raise funds for AITC.
Elsewhere, highlights included pupils at St Nicolas Primary School performing a special Blue and White Day dance which they had choreographed to the tune of Sussex by the Sea to mark the occasion.
There was also plenty going on at both the American Express Community Stadium and the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, including a visually-impaired football challenge at the training ground, which Albion manager Chris Hughton and others members of the club’s coaching staff took part in after training.
Albion mascots Gully and Sally visited some of the many local schools and businesses which were taking part, including Durrington High School, Patcham High School, Gap Solutions, Brighton & Hove Buses and DMH Stallard.
Money raised from Blue and White Day will now help fund the charity’s football sessions for people with a disability. Last year’s total was enough to fund two such sessions for an entire year – something which will have benefitted dozens of young people who otherwise may not have had the chance to play the sport they love.
Matt Dorn, AITC’s chief executive officer, was delighted with how the day went. He said: “We don’t have a final total yet as money is still coming in, but we are looking good to beat last year.
“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support we have received and the money raised will make a real difference to many of the people we work with.
“On behalf of everyone at Albion in the Community, and the people who benefit from our work, I would like to say thank you to all the Albion fans, businesses and schools who took part in Blue and White Day – your support will have a genuine impact on the charity and the work we are able to do here in Sussex.”
Fans who would like to support Blue and White Day can still do so by texting BWDAY to 70085 to give £3.