“It feels a great time to be running an auction, fresh from Alfie’s Wimbledon success and ahead of the Paralympics. We’re all hoping he comes back with another medal” – garments donated by Paralympic tennis ace Hewett are being sold to raise funds for EACH
Paralympic tennis ace Alfie Hewett has served up a treat after donating items to raise funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Garments including tops, shorts, a hat and bandana are being auctioned online, in addition to two Wimbledon towels. British number one Alfie, from Norfolk, is a keen supporter of EACH and has a connection through Jennifer Bell, who volunteers at its Diss and Thetford shops.
His profile shot to new heights after winning his maiden Wimbledon wheelchair singles title earlier this summer and then being victorious in the doubles, alongside fellow Brit Gordon Reid. The singles success was his ninth Grand Slam title overall after four US Open victories, three at the French Open and one at the Australian Open.
Now he is busy preparing for the Paralympic Games, in Paris. The wheelchair tennis gets underway on 30th August and runs until 7th September. “Alfie’s friends and family know him as a polite, well-mannered, humble and generous young man,” said Jennifer, who has been volunteering for just over two
years and is also part of EACH’s Help at Home service. He recently moved and bagged up some bits and pieces to help us raise funds. I didn’t want them going straight out on the shop floor as I hoped there was an opportunity to run some kind of auction like this. Hopefully it proves a real success and it’s a pleasure to be involved. Volunteering is something I find very humbling and motivational and it’s given me a real insight into the difference the funds we raise can make for families. It feels a great time to be running an auction, fresh from Alfie’s Wimbledon success and ahead of the Paralympics. We’re all hoping he comes back with another medal. That would be amazing and cap off his incredible year.”
In total, Norwich-born Alfie, who attended Acle High School, studied Sport and Exercise Science at City College Norwich and received an OBE for his services to tennis in the King’s first birthday honours list last June, has donated 35 items and the auctions are being staggered throughout the Paralympics. The auction began on 24th August, with two or three items being listed every evening for the next fortnight.
“Alfie likes our charity and what we stand for,” said Bethany Watchman, EACH’s E-
Commerce Deputy Manager. “The items were donated earlier in the year and now we’ve managed to organise a certificate of authenticity, which means we can begin preparing for the auction. Alfie’s a local lad who’s achieved so much in tennis, including multiple Grand Slam titles. Being in a position to auction these items is very exciting and we hope it’s going to be a huge success, both for us and him, as I know he cares deeply about EACH.”
