Congleton's The Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation hopes to pass £50k milestone at football match
By Alex Greensmith
7th Jul 2022 | Local News
A good cause in memory of a late Congleton teenager hopes to pass the £50,000 fundraising milestone this weekend.
The Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation, founded by Congleton parents Mandy, Mark and Josh Ogden, was established shortly after Georgia passed away from a tragic car crash in Astbury.
25 months later, they have raised an incredible £46,000 for local charities, and hope to raise thousands more this Saturday July 9.
From 2pm at Congleton High School Sports Centre, a free-to-attend fundraising football match will take place.
"The money raised will allow us to continue helping families in the local area", said Mandy.
"We helped several families across East Cheshire and Staffordshire in 2021 and 2022. This ranged from a medical skull helmet for a child, a specialised swing for a child from Congleton, to activities and literature for Congleton charity Friends for Leisure.
"Other recent local projects include securing equipment for Congleton's Ruby's Fund, and a bubble wall for a family with autistic children.
"This is all thanks to the generous donations to the foundation. So we are looking forward to raising money again this Saturday."
"We've raised about £1000 ahead of the weekend's game already," said Mark.
"Each football player has paid to play and the raffle tickets have been selling well as well. You can buy them by messaging us on Facebook or on the day.
"My old Vale Juniors football team from 20 years ago are getting together and playing some of Georgia's friends from Biddulph.
"Most of my old teammates are from the Congleton area. Let's hope our legs won't give in!"
Saturday's game promises to be a fun family day out, with a catering van, ice cream van, refreshment tent, and more.
New bouncy castle business Congleton Castles will be there, and will waive a portion of their profits to The Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation.
Sandbach Street Dance Academy, where Georgia also attended, will be performing twice at the match.
But the big money raiser and entertainment in aid of the Congleton good cause will be the raffle.
There are over 16 prizes up for grabs, with generous Congleton businesses donating plenty of valuable prizes.
Highlights include a £30 gift voucher at Bridge Street gift shop Serenity Designs, a voucher for FOUR classes at Barre Sculpt pilates and yoga, along with a £30 nail voucher.
There's also eateries such as Rubens of Lawton Street who have pledged their support with a £20 voucher.
"The businesses have been amazing. We couldn't do it without them," added Mandy.
"It is overwhelming in a good way how much people want to help," added Mark.
"It makes you realise when hold events like this, how much good there is in people."
CHS' playing fields is a perfect venue for the event given Georgia used to attend there.
The school itself - located on Box Lane - have fundraised for The Foundation for the past 12 months, and will soon present the money for the volunteer-led organisation to distribute into the community.
"As long as we've got the communities support, we will keep helping those in our community," explained Mark.
"We're finding the contacts, but it is everybody that is donating the money and prizes that deserves the credit.
"And that is the same for this event, for the hundreds of people turn up to the football event, it is them who we have to thank for putting the money in.
"We couldn't do it without the support of Congleton and the surrounding areas. With us supporting local projects, I think people like it because they can see how it helps. We don't take a penny out of it."
Despite having day jobs at Congleton Laser Cutting and Macclesfield Hospital, Mark and Mandy work on The Foundation almost every day.
So no matter how big or small, any donations will be greatly appreciated.
Other recent charities supported thanks to The Foundation's donations were supporting Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and Congleton's BTG Mind Matters, and Ruby's Fund's Toy Appeal last Christmas.
Other local projects The Foundation have recently donated to included providing autism-friendly pushchairs for local toddlers, and paying for an autism assistant dog for a family in Sandbach.
It is hoped that The Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation can complete many more projects of this kind, with funds raised from Saturday's event.
The charity football match was the idea of Mark's friend Chris Burrows, who has also helped with the organisation of the fixture.
The Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation host a regular calendar of events, including an Easter raffle, and an autumn ball.
Mandy and Mark fully support the work national road charity Brake does to make driving safer, for which Congleton Nub News may report on in the future.
You can find more about The Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation on Facebook, and more about this weekend's event here.
Please note: Cash is required for some of the activities, so bring plenty to avoid disappointment!
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