BUPA Match Day Heroes Raise Over £2,000 For Local School

Two football teams from BUPA Health Insurance in Staines battled it out all in the name of a good cause.

Over 30 members of staff took part and together raised more than £2,000 for the Manor Mead School in Shepperton. Manor Mead is a community day school for children with learning disabilities and the money raised will be used to buy items which will support the children's learning and development.

Teams skippered by BUPA Health Insurance's commercial director Steve Flanagan and customer service and operations director Oke Eleazu took to the field for the inaugural BUPA Challenge Shield.

Wheatsheaf Park, the home of Staines Town FC, was the venue for the clash. Prior to kick-off both teams were led out by pupils from the school and team photos were also taken.

It was a tightly-fought match and after 90 minutes the score was level at 5-5. A nail-biting penalty shootout followed and Team Oke walked off the eventual winners, beating Team Steve 4-2.

The fundraiser was the brainchild of BUPA staff on The Academy training programme - a 12 month course designed to help people develop their management careers.

BUPA Community Connections supported The Academy's efforts and have matched the funds raised. Set up in 2001, BUPA Community Connections co-ordinates staff involvement and develops partnerships in the local communities that BUPA operates in.

Winning team captain Oke Eleazu, BUPA Health Insurance's customer service and operations director, said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be on the winning side. It was a real team effort and everyone deserves a pat on the back. More importantly, we reached our £2,000 target."

There were also some great prizes on offer in the post-match raffle. One lucky winner walked off with two tickets to an Arsenal football match of their choice. Other prizes included signed Chelsea and Manchester United shirts, a meal for two and a make-over with a make-up artist.

And BUPA's offices have been in the grip of football fever since plans were first announced. Oke added: "There's been a real buzz about the event ever since staff on The Academy programme told us of their plans. We've had tremendous support, not just from within BUPA, but from the staff and pupils at the Manor Mead School and also from Staines Town FC - we really couldn't have done it without them."