Cheshire Oaks High School raffle bat signed by Freddie Flintoff to buy pupil a wheelchair

Jul 1 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

A WHEELCHAIR basketball star of the future was bowled over after his school decided to raffle a signed cricket bat to buy him a new chair.

The raffle of a cricket bat autographed by England ace Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff will give Billy Bridge, a year 9 pupil at Cheshire Oaks High School, a new sports wheelchair.

The school has waited three years for a cause worthy enough to sell the bat and will now raffle it along with a certificate of authenticity to raise funds for a bespoke chair for Billy.

In 2006, the school received a minibus from the Lord Taverners Association and on a visit to London to collect the bus, joined the England Cricket team during a training session at Lords, where Flintoff signed the bat.

Headteacher Lynne Fox said: “The funds we raise will make a difference to Billy every single day and enable him to do so much more and hopefully achieve his dream of playing professional basketball. Freddie’s kindness will make a difference to a young man in our community who deserves this support.”

The school aims to raise £1,000 by selling raffle tickets for a pound.

Billy said: “It will help me in many things such as after school clubs.

“I play wheelchair basketball and I am currently captain of the North West under 15 squad. The chair will help me develop lots of skills and I think it will help further my basketball career. One day I hope to play for Great Britain and I believe that this chair will help me to do so, so I am very grateful of the school for raising the money for me.”

Tickets are £1 from the school office and are available until Friday, July 10. The raffle will be drawn in school on Tuesday, July 14.