ICC elite umpires donate 10,000 US dollars each to Australia, New Zealand charities

In an attempt to promote the game and act as positive role models within the cricketing community, the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires on Friday made two separate donations of 10,000 US dollars to the Fred Hollows Foundation in Melbourne and Ronald McDonald House Charities in Christchurch respectively, ahead of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Over the last number of international tournaments, the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires has nominated charities to make a donation in the respective host countries. This year it has selected a charity each in Australia and New Zealand.

Commenting on the initiative, Steve Davis, who is the spokesperson for the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires Executive, said that they were delighted to support the Fred Hollows Foundation, which had done so much outstanding work nationally in Australia, especially with indigenous children and around the world.

Ronald McDonald House Charities does an enormous amount of good across New Zealand and globally to alleviate the plight of families whose children are undergoing treatment in hospitals and medical centres by providing accommodation, thus ensuring a level of normality at what can be a challenging time, he added.

The panel of 12 Emirates Elite Panel of Umpires is conscious of its role to help promote the game and act as positive role models within the cricketing community. They are delighted to make the contribution and hope that it could help the Fred Hollows Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities with their important work, he added.

The cheque was presented by the umpires ahead of the start of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to representatives from the charity, including CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, Brian Doolan, who commented that like this World Cup tournament, Fred Hollows was a giant on both sides of the Tasman in Australia and New Zealand and also reached out to so many countries around the world.

His work began with indigenous Australians in some of the most remote parts of the country and today, Fred's dream to end avoidable blindness lives on through the work we do in Australia and cricketing nations around the world, he added.

The generous donation from the ICC's Elite Umpires would help keep Fred's spirit strong by funding the important work we do with indigenous Australians, he added.

Meanwhile, a cheque was also presented by the umpires ahead of the start of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to representatives from the Ronald McDonald House Charity in Christchurch, whose CEO Wayne Howett, said that anyone involved with international sport would know how hard it could be when one were away from loved ones for extended periods of time. Imagine then the circumstances of separation being a result of a child's illness - it really does take its toll.

He further said that he would like to personally thank the Match Officials for their thoughtfulness; their generosity would help RMHC continue to ensure that Kiwi families who have needed to relocate for their child's treatment can remain together and strong at one of our home away from homes.

Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Kumar Dhamasena, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker.