Bolton Wanderers defender Gethin Jones’ MND appeal raises over £100,000

WANDERERS defender Gethin Jones’ MND appeal has raised over £100,000, the club have announced.

Ian Evatt’s first team squad took on a Bolton All Star XI managed by Sam Allardyce at the UniBol earlier this month.

The match took place to raise for Gethin’s mum, Karen, who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and over 13,000 supporters were in attendance.

“This is a magnificent amount of money which will go a long way towards reaching the total we set ourselves to help provide care for mum and also hopefully help others suffering from the condition through the superb work of the Darby Rimmer Foundation,” Jones told the club’s website.

“As a family, we can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness and support.

“We are so grateful to the club, led by Sharon (Brittan), for staging the two events and to all the staff, former players and team-mates who made both such an enjoyable and successful occasion.

“Most of all, though, we would like to thank all the supporters and sponsors who attended and gave so generously to help support our cause.

“To see over 13,000 people inside the stadium for the legends match meant so much to our mum and whole family and is something we will never forget.

“We consider ourselves lucky to be part of the Wanderers’ family.”

A quarter of the money raised will go to the Darby Rimmer Foundation to help fund research into the disease.

“I was privileged to spend some time with Karen and her incredible family,” added Wanderers chairman Sharon Brittan.

“Gethin’s mum and dad, Karen and Gareth, are brave and remarkable people, who touched my heart in the most meaningful of ways.

“We were proud, and honoured, to have been able to stage these two events which, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful supporters, were such a success in raising this magnificent sum.

“Ian and his team, Sam Allardyce and the former players, and all the club staff who helped stage the weekend did a superb job and I am equally grateful to them for their effort in supporting such a worthwhile cause.

“Karen devoted her working life to others and it is only appropriate we do what we can to help her and her family in return.

“We will continue to be there for them all beyond the success and collective spirit of the fund-raising weekend, which I believe epitomised everything Bolton Wanderers stands for.”