Key Hospital Unit To Benefit From Generosity Of Leicester City Fans

- LCFC fans pledge £80,218 of first-week ticket rebates to the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation
- Rebates available to supporters with remaining games of the season behind closed doors
- Donations to support the refurbishment of the Kinmonth Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Ticket rebate and donation process open until 30 June

Foxes fans have already donated over £80,000 to the Foundation during an extraordinary first week of 2019/20 ticket rebates. 

And that money, along with any further donations during the rebate process, will be used to support the renovation of the LRI’s Kinmonth Unit – a key facility for University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust.

The English football season is due to restart this month following its suspension in March, but games will take place behind closed doors due to COVID-19.

From 1 June, Leicester City supporters have been able to apply for a rebate on tickets already purchased for the Club’s remaining fixtures – including four Premier League home matches and the FA Cup Quarter-Final tie with Chelsea. 

At the request of a number of supporters, an option was made available to donate a proportion of those refunds to the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation and its work supporting our community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

And within a week, with applications received for 64% of Season Tickets and match tickets, a total of £80,218 has been donated. The rebate application process will remain open until Tuesday 30 June.

The funds donated – and further donations from the rebate process – will be used to support the refurbishment of the Kinmonth Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary, via the Leicester Hospitals Charity – a facility that supports patient recovery from major head and neck injuries and the only ward at the LRI that can house patients immediately after they leave intensive care.

Susan Whelan, Leicester City’s Chief Executive and a trustee of the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, explained: “The time we have spent working with Leicester Hospitals during the pandemic has given us some valuable insight into the areas in which we can offer further support. The idea for the Kinmonth Unit was a result of conversations that took place between our staff that volunteered to work on the site and their colleagues they shared facilities with during that time.

“This is an extraordinary gift from Leicester City supporters who, during difficult times that have been so testing for so many, have still found a way to support those less fortunate. We felt that such a gift deserved to have a definitive purpose and the Kinmonth Unit – such an important asset to the LRI and to our community – is just that. It’s our supporters’ gift to Leicester Hospitals.” 

Lisa Davies, Director of Leicester Hospital’s Charity said: “We are honoured to receive the amazing support of Leicester City Football Club, its supporters and the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation.

“The support for the Kinmonth Unit will revitalise the staff and patient experience by brightening the area with new wall art, providing televisions for patients in isolation and a new staff rest and refreshment area. The vital support will enhance and transform the lives of staff and patients for years to come.”

Supporting the refurbishment of the Kinmonth Unit adds to the work the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation has already undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the community’s immediate response and its work in the future emergence from the crisis.

University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland have been among the Foundation’s beneficiaries in recent weeks. The 2020 Gift of a Wish programme was also launched in April, offering financial, logistical and volunteering support to a range of applicant causes across Leicestershire & Rutland.

Renamed the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation in November 2018 in honour of the Club’s late Chairman, the charity aims to use its position to be a force for good through its impact on the lives of people in its community and has raised millions of pounds for dozens of worthy causes since its formation in 2011.