SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Several top UK charities have secured vital funding after leading British bookies handed over profits from the Britannia Stakes race at Royal Ascot.
Receiving a share of £262,284 is Prostate Cancer UK, Ascot Racecourse Supports, Missing People, Heros, GoRacingGreen and the Churchill Lines Foundation (CLF) – a new group of good causes in the initiative’s fifth year running.
After Callum Rodriguez rode Mickley to victory last Thursday, the BGC’s Britannia Stakes Charity Bet campaign has now raised over £6m in total for good causes.
Michael Dugher, CEO and Acting Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that BGC members are able to once again make such a huge donation to a range of good causes doing incredible work in communities up and down the country.
“I’d like to thank all our incredible BGC members who took part this year – as well as their customers who enjoyed a flutter on the race – and I’d like to thank Ascot for their continued support.
“Thanks to our members, the Britannia Stakes has raised over £3m in five years for a host of incredible charities, and over £6m in total for good causes.
“Those are huge sums and demonstrate just how committed the BGC and our members are to charities working in sport, racing, health and the veteran community. I know how delighted these charities will be with this vital funding, and the BGC and our members are incredibly proud to make it possible.”
Studies show that one in eight men will be affected by prostate cancer and it’s the most common cancer in men, but if caught early the disease is curable.
Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, added: “We’re proud to be part of this brilliant incentive, which will help fund that research towards a screening programme, so we can catch prostate cancer early and save lives.
“From the punters to the bookmakers and all the parties involved, we thank everyone for their continued support.”
When the return of the initiative was announced earlier this month, the bookmakers promised that if they failed to make a profit on the race, they would have made a combined donation of £200,000 to be split among the nominated charities.
Roger Lewis, Chairman of CLF, expressed how the donations will make a big difference to his charity and others alike: “The Churchill Lines Foundation, on behalf of the Special Forces Support Group, is so grateful and humbled to be a part of such generosity from the bookmaking members of the Betting and Gaming Council.
“The Unit, which is tri-service, is permanently operational, and so the inevitable demands on both those who serve as well as their families and their children are considerable. The monies raised will go directly to support immediate welfare needs within the Unit.
“This donation will make a significant difference to the lives of many people who go quietly about their business to make our lives, and the lives of countless others, safer. Thank you all so much.”
