A fundraiser for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans recently laid two footballs during a very special visit to the Christmas Day Truce Memorial in Belgium.
Keely Allen, a trustee for Corringham Athletic Football Club and the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, who heads up fundraising for the charity, was honoured to attend the memorial alongside Second World War veteran Ivan Staines during the charity's visit to Ypres on Monday, April 13. At the memorial, which marks the site where a temporary truce was declared over Christmas 1914 during the First World War, she laid a football on behalf of the Taxi Charity, as well as a second football representing Corringham Athletic FC.
Keely said: "All the Taxi Charity trips are special, but this one really hit home for me. Not only was I honoured to accompany the amazing Second World War veteran Ivan to lay a football on behalf of the Taxi Charity, but I also laid a football for Corringham Athletic FC. This club is where my greatly missed dad, George Goodman, coached his last football team and remains their Life President. I know this is a place my dad always wanted to visit, and the fact I got to lay a football with his club name and the signatures of the managers, coaches and his name on it makes me even more proud to be his daughter."
Corringham Athletic FC has proudly supported the Taxi Charity for many years and is deeply honoured that Keely was able to represent the club in this way. To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is wholly reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship. For more information and to donate, visit www.taxicharity.org.
