Andy Murray, and new wife Kim, helped net £27,025 for a Sussex Hospice with a charity raffle to win a tennis ball signed by the Wimbledon star and late tennis legend Fred Perry.
The tennis champ may have missed out on the Wimbledon title but proved a big hitter with tennis fans, more than 2,000 of them bought a £1 ticket to have a shot at winning the legendary piece of Wimbledon memorabilia.
The ball signed by Perry, who won three consecutive Wimbledon Championships, was one of a set of three given to Murray by superfan Gail Sargent who met Fred Perry in 1994.
In 2010 Gail sadly lost her life to ovarian cancer while being cared for at the St Peter & St James Hospice in Wivelsfield, Sussex.
Now the Hospice is benefiting from the Murrays’ generous gift which raised the phenomenal sum through the online raffle.
Colin Burgess, chief executive of St Peter & St James Hospice, said, “We are so grateful to Kim and Andy Murray for their generosity and support, as well as to everyone who entered the raffle.
“Fundraising is vital to us at St Peter & St James Hospice as we receive just 14% of our funding from the Government, therefore, the majority of financial support comes from our community.
“There were fantastic prizes in the draw and I’m grateful to everyone who bought a ticket for this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.
“Special congratulations must go to the winner of this unique piece of tennis memorabilia.”
Mr O Refson from Wells won the first prize, the signed white tennis ball bearing a unique moment of tennis legends.
The second prize of a signed Andy Murray t-shirt and a pair of tickets to Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour was won by Mr P Leahy from Cambridge.
Third prize scored winner Mr S Ellingham from Bedford a pair of tickets to Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour and a 2015 Wimbledon towel.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Hospice can still do so on the Hospice’s website at www.stpeter-stjames.org.uk/donate
