When schoolgirl Jennifer Hugill was featured recently in the Hartlepool Mail giving details of a trip to Romania to help out in an orphanage, the story struck a chord with Hartlepool United owners IOR.
Jennifer needed £600 to guarantee her trip to Slatina in Romania and IOR were keen to sponsor the trip.
And so Club Chief Executive Russ Green contacted the English Martyr's pupil to offer the funds and Jennifer was delighted to accept,
"I was really pleased to hear from the Club and I just want to thank them for the sponsorship.
"I was surprised when they got in touch and offered the money but it really means a lot.
"This money from Hartlepool United means a lot more of what we raised now can go straight to the orphanage and the children.
"We are very close to our target now; we'd raised £150 - £200 through fund-raising in College so this has really pushed us nearer to that £1000 mark that we were aiming for."
Seventeen-year-old Jennifer was inspired to make the trip when a representative from World Wide Volunteers visited her College to make a presentation.
And now, after receiving the bulk of her fund-raising money from IOR, Jennifer is looking forward to making the trip on 10th July,
"I'm just starting to get excited about going over there now.
"The money will be used to help the children in the orphanage and with general maintenance of the orphanage.
"I'll also be helping out with teaching them to speak English while I'm there."
And Russ Green was delighted to be able to hand the cheque over the Jennifer on behalf of IOR at The Vic this week,
"The donation has come from our owners IOR who basically have their fingers on the pulse on all happenings in the town.
"They are very committed to community work in the area and have been since they came to the Club.
"When they read the appeal about Jennifer going to Romania, the heart strings were tugged. This is a fantastic cause and with Jennifer struggling to raise money, they were keen to step in.
"This just goes to show that IOR are committed, not only to the Football Club, but also to the town as a whole."
Hartlepool United also provided Jennifer with a signed football to auction as part of her fund-raising efforts.
