Glasgow Warriors set ambitious fundraising plan on International Day of Charity

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity Head of Fundraising William McGowan (centre) with Glasgow Warriors players Sione Vailanu and Ollie Smith and staff Jana Tobin and Luke O’Dea at Scotstoun Stadium, on September 03, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Located less than a mile away from the home of the current BKT United Rugby Championship champions, this announcement begins the eighth year the club has supported Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and the second year of the season-wide Fighting for our Families campaign. 

Glasgow Warriors and the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity are launching the campaign on the United Nation’s International Day of Charity, which seeks to “mobilize people, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities”. 

After successfully raising £53,971 for the charity in the first year of the ‘Fighting for our Families’ campaign, the club is now determined to substantially increase that support by enhancing its current fundraising activities and introducing new collaborations, all while mobilising supporters, sponsors, grassroots rugby clubs, and schools across its community. 

This comes after four clubs contributed nearly £15,000 to Fighting for our Families, with the quartet of clubs honoured with a community celebration evening at the Children’s Hospital’s state-of-the-art cinema. 

Fundraising begins 

Fundraising commences this weekend at the pre-season fixture with Connacht at Scotstoun Stadium. The match is on Saturday (7 September) and kicks off at 6pm. Supporters attending that game can buy a special merchandise pack for £15 that celebrates the 2023/24 league win. All proceeds from the sale of those packs will go directly to Fighting for our Families.  

It’s then over to Glasgow Warriors colleagues, with 14 running the Great Scottish Run 10K or half marathon on Sunday 6 October. 

Plaster It Purple confirmed 

As ever, the campaign will culminate in the Plaster It Purple matchday, supported by Leidos. The club are delighted to confirm that the Emirates Lions game on Saturday 29 March at Scotstoun Stadium is the date set for our 2024/25 Plaster It Purple fixture.  

This will be the fourth season that the Glasgow Warriors calendar will feature a Plaster It Purple fixture, with Leidos having contributed £30,000 to the fundraising campaign since the fixture’s inception. With the support of Leidos we have also been able to enhance the game day experience for our fans to encourage public donations on the night and ensure this is a stand out event.   

Already several grassroots rugby clubs from across Glasgow, the West, and Caledonia are committed to getting involved with fundraising, with invitations to all clubs across our regions for the 2024/25 campaign to be sent in the coming weeks. 

More information about planned activities will be shared in due course. 

Best season yet 

Glasgow Warriors Managing Director Al Kellock said: “The Fighting for our Families campaign is all about bringing together our community across Scotland and setting out a challenge that we all believe in and get behind.  

“In the first year of the campaign we heard several stories from individuals and rugby clubs about the life changing support they had received from the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. We’re grateful to all those individuals and rugby clubs who give their time and energy to come on this journey with us as we seek to give young people in Scotland the best care, services, and family support possible in their greatest times of need.  

“Together with our partner Leidos we have built a flagship event that we are extremely proud of. The Plaster It Purple match day will once again be the pinnacle of the campaign. We look forward to working with Leidos to make this the best Plaster It Purple game day we’ve had. 

“In 2024/25 we’re going to make the Fighting for our Families campaign even bigger than before, and we have plans to engage with even more people as we deepen our connections across the rugby community.” 

William McGowan, Head of Partnerships at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity said: “We are so thankful for the ongoing partnership and generosity shown by Glasgow Warriors and their supporters.

“We are looking forward to working with Glasgow Warriors, their fans, Leidos and other sponsors again this year, to make this the most successful season of fundraising and volunteering yet.”