Sponsor Backing for Football Festival to Support Musical Therapy for Children

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Football Festival to Support Musical Therapy for Children | Charity PR

A FOOTBALL festival raising money for a programme of musical therapy for children staying in hospital has received sponsorship support from a top legal firm.

Gilson Gray will sponsor the Gullane Athletic Football Festival this Saturday, helping to raise funds for the Jess Mackie Memorial Fund and musical therapy projects run by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

The family-friendly festival, which will kick off at 9am at Gullane’s Memorial Park, will welcome over 500 adults and children from throughout East Lothian.

Vanessa Kennedy, Marketing Director at Gilson Gray, said: “We are proud of our partnership with ECHC and are always happy to use our reach and networks for good where and when we can to support their projects.

“Jess’ story is one that has had a huge impact on many around East Lothian, including the team who work in our North Berwick office.

“Hopefully we can help raise awareness of the memorial trust and the pleasure and support music therapy can bring to children undergoing treatment.”

The Jess Mackie Memorial Trust was set up in memory of North Berwick pupil, Jess Mackie, who sadly passed away on 2nd January at the age of 14.

Passionate about singing, Jess was a member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland and regularly performed at school concerts.

According to her father Michael Mackie, his daughter’s love of singing and kind heart inspired them to set up the fund to support music therapy at the Edinburgh Hospital for Sick Kids.

Michael said: “It’s fantastic that Gilson Gray are sponsoring the event and helping us to spread awareness.

“I’ve been involved with the football club in Gullane since 2007. When Jess passed away the club approached us to help us raise funds in her memory.

“What we are holding on Saturday is a community event welcoming around 400 children and 150 adults from all over East Lothian for games of football and fun for all the family.

“Jess really enjoyed singing and she found growing up that it helped with her asthma.

“Therefore, the money raised will go towards two main projects; Tinderbox Collective who regularly entertain the children in the hospital and singing activities to help with asthma-related conditions.

“Jess always took such joy in helping others. By holding fundraising events, such as the football festival, we are continuing to do what she would have done if she were still here.”

Those attending the event can expect to find BBQ, beer and prosecco tents, live music including Tinderbox Collective, and a host of games for all the family.

Boys and girls football games will run from 9am-5pm, with a girls-only tournament set to begin at 1.30pm.

Adults will so be able to get their boots mucky from 5-8.30pm, with a 24 team adult tournament taking place from 5pm.

Sue Diamond, Community Fundraising Manager at ECHC, said: “The Mackie family have been incredible and thanks to their support we were able to fund Tinderbox to bring music and music making to children during their stay in hospital.

“Participation at all levels and ability is positively encouraged and we have found many budding musicians on the wards.

“We know that Jess loved music and singing and the family wanted to recognise this in her name.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to them and the local community who have rallied around so generously to support this event and the Jess Mackie Memorial Fund.”

Last year, Gilson Gray hosted its third annual GRACE banquet, which was attended by over 300 guests and raised £82,450, split between ECHC and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Gullane Athletic Football Festival will take place on Saturday 11th August from 9am-8.30pm.

ECHC supports and complements the work of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children as well as other children’s healthcare settings across the southeast of Scotland and beyond.

To make donation to the Jess Mackie Memorial visit https://teamechc.everydayhero.com/uk/jess-mackie-memorial-fund

Gilson Gray is based in Glasgow (160 West George Street) and Edinburgh (29 Rutland Square) and has a radical client-focused strategy.

The Firm recently landed Most Outstanding Full-Service Law Firm 2017 – Scotland by Corporate Excellence Awards and six awards at the ACQ5 legal awards – the third year in a row that Gilson Gray has seen success – including Law Firm of the Year, Managing Partner of the Year and Insolvency Lawyer of the Year, all for the second time in three years.

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