Joe “Roots” for Sheffield Children’s Hospital

INTERNATIONAL cricket star and England Test team captain Joe Root MBE is the new patron for The Children’s Hospital Charity which supports Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Joe, 29, grew up in the Sheffield suburb of Dore, went to school in the city and continues to retain strong links to the area by also playing for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Today those ties to the city deepen with his new charity role, which will see him support The Children’s Hospital Charity’s upcoming fundraising efforts to transform the facilities at Sheffield Children’s Hospital through their Building a Better Future Appeal.

Joe said: “I have been aware of the work undertaken by all the staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital for some time. The care and support given to all their young patients is truly amazing. I am delighted and very honoured to be asked to join The Children’s Hospital Charity as a patron. I can’t wait to support and become involved with the Charity”.

One of only three dedicated children’s hospital trust’s in the UK, Sheffield Children’s Hospital sees more than 276,000 patients every year from across the country and around the world.

Home to a range of world-leading clinicians in care and research, alongside some of the best medical and surgical services available to children, demand for its services continues to grow every year.

The Children’s Hospital Charity work to fund life-saving specialist medical equipment, new facilities to extend the range of treatment provided, pioneering research and improvements to the environment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Joe Root joins with the charity currently fundraising for their biggest-ever appeal, to raise £14.25m to build a new Emergency Department, on-site Helipad and transform the Cancer and Leukaemia ward.

Director of The Children’s Hospital Charity, David Vernon-Edwards, added: “We are absolutely thrilled that Joe, one of Sheffield’s most illustrious cricketers, will be joining us as a patron.

“As a world-class cricketer, we’re sure Joe will be the perfect fit to support the world-class staff and expertise at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. We look forward to working with Joe in the years to come to deliver these new projects, which will not happen without charity funding.”

Joe became the 80th captain of the England Test team in 2017 and joins former England captain Michael Vaughan among The Children’s Hospital Charity’s patrons. His contribution to the sport was recognised in the 2019 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List with an MBE for services to cricket.

If you would like to make a donation to support the patients and staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital at this unprecedented time, text SHEFFCHILDRENS to 70085 to donate £5. This costs £5 plus your standard message rate.