Brentford have announced that they have raised £50,000 for the ‘Heart of West London’ (HoWL) charity as they continue their commitment to cardiac health awareness.
Through their partnership with MatchWornShirt, the net proceeds Brentford receivds through shirt auctions have gone directly to support the vital cardiac health initiative.
The HoWL campaign was founded in memory of Robert Rowan, Brentford’s former Technical Director, who tragically passed away from a heart condition in 2018. The campaign’s mission is to raise awareness and fund research to help save lives from sudden cardiac arrest and other heart-related issues.
With the £50k raised, HoWL can put it towards life-saving initiatives, whether that’s funding free heart screenings for young people, providing defibrillators for public use or training staff to deliver CPR training within the Brentford community sport trust.
First-team stars Yoane Wissa, Mathias Jensen, and Mikkel Damsgaard all passionately talked about the importance of cardiac health in a video released with the announcement.
"It can happen to anyone," they all said. Damsgaard added: "I have a special connection to it. I experienced it with Christian [Eriksen] in Denmark. It didn't seem real at the time."
Brentford’s partnership with MatchWornShirt has been significant in raising funds while connecting fans with club-specific memorabilia that enables them to own a tangible piece of history.
Adam Ward, Head of Partnership Services at Brentford, commented: “The support from fans has been incredible, and we’re immensely proud to see how this partnership has made such a meaningful impact.
“We’re excited to see how these donations create long-lasting impact and lead to greater awareness and positive impact in our community and beyond.”
Tijmen Zonderwijk, co-founder of MatchWornShirt, added: “The passion and willingness demonstrated by Brentford has been truly inspiring, and raising £50k for HoWL is a remarkable achievement that shouldn’t be overlooked.
“At MatchWornShirt, we’re committed to making a positive impact through football, and this campaign is a powerful example of how the sport can unite people for such an important cause.”