CRY was chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the ICAP Charity Day 2009, thanks to efforts of CRY supporter (and County Representative for Kent) James Brown, whose wife Katrina died suddenly in 2006 aged just 31. ICAP is a large multinational company in the finance sector that presents itself as “…the world’s premier voice and electronic interdealer broker…” and which “…provides specialist intermediary broking services to trading professionals in the wholesale over-the-counter (OTC) markets.”

On ICAP’s annual Charity Day, the commission earned on any deals brokered during the day is split between a number of chosen charities.

Personnel and Patrons from the nominated charities may attend the day, and even speak to clients on the phone to try and encourage them to close a deal!

CRY Patron Pat Jennings OBE KSG and CRY Chief Executive Alison Cox MBE (below) attended this year’s event in ICAP’s London offices.

Alison said afterwards, “Pat was a phenomenal success and was still being mobbed by supporters 4 hours after he started touring the four dealing floors.”

“He closed two deals in New York and one in Athens; shook hundreds of hands; had scores of photos taken and signed innumerable autographs on all sorts of unusual things/strange places.”

“Fans passed by shaking their heads and muttering about his legendary status – all with a tale to tell about a match witnessed; a shot saved; or confirming themselves, their child or grandfather to be a massive fan of Pat.”

“It was an extraordinary day, with brokers and ICAP staff all investing considerable time, energy and personal funds in selecting personal themes for dressing-up and creating a colourful uplifting and festive atmosphere – with all profits made going to the selected charities. I was so privileged to be escorting truly one of the most courteous, congenial and accommodating of the UK’s historic sporting heroes.”

Pat commented, “It was a brilliant day and just so nice that people went to so much trouble for all the chosen charities.”

The day also featured an in-house auction for ICAP clients and employees, with over 150 fantastic lots on offer. CRY donated 3 items to this auction – a classic wooden tennis racket signed by Bjorn Borg; a hand-made traditional rocking horse; and a tennis racket signed by Sir Cliff Richard, Sue Barker and Gloria Hunniford.

Each charity that donated items to this auction received the full amount of the winning bids for their items.

The funds that CRY receives as a result of ICAP Charity Day 2009 will launch CRY’s new screening initiative to offer screening to all young people in the South East born in 1995.

You can find out more about the ICAP Charity Day on the ICAP website at www.icap.com/about-the-group/charity-day.aspx