Holiday Extras will host a fantasy football fundraising initiative to raise money for a children’s foundation launched by one of the company’s managing directors after he lost his daughter to cancer in March.
The Evie Dove Foundation was named in memory of the daughter of HX managing director of airparks and insurance, Howard Dove. It aims to provide support to sick children and their families, and save young lives, by sponsoring further education for paediatric medical professionals.
The foundation was launched after Evie lost her battle with brain cancer in March 2022, just 13 months after she was diagnosed with the disease in April 2021. To help raise funds for the foundation, the team at Holiday Extras launched the fantasy football competition, where participants donate £10 to enter the league.
It hopes to raise £5,000, with prizes awarded to the overall winner, the best game week score, the lowest number of transfers, the best triple captain team score, the best free hit score and the best team name at the end of the 2022/23 Premier League football season. The code to join the Evie Dove Foundation league is 3icy0l.
Holiday Extras head of partnerships James Lewis told TTG the fundraiser meant "an enormous amount" to the company. "Howard is a much loved member of our leadership team, and has been with the business for more than 20 years," he said.
"We are very much still a family business at heart and were used to seeing Howard’s daughter Evie and her younger brother Edward visit our offices during the school holidays.
"As you can imagine, we were absolutely devastated when Evie lost her battle with cancer earlier this year. The fantasy football League is the brainchild of Edward, Evie’s younger brother and huge football fan, as a great way for people to get involved, have some fun, maybe win a prize, and raise money."
Moving forward, the foundation plans to host a golf day, as well as summer and Christmas balls, to help raise more money for its cause.
"We want to do as much as possible to get people engaged in the foundation, not only to raise funds, but also for them to join in, have some fun and get something back in return – we know that’s what Evie would have wanted," Lewis added.
To find out more about how to join the competition or to donate to the organisation, visit the Evie Dove Foundation website.