The Blue Bell Inn has rallied the Alfreton community behind men’s mental health, raising over £1,400 for Andy’s Man Club through two charity football matches that drew hundreds of supporters.
For pub operator Rebakah Banks and her team, supporting Andy’s Man Club was a cause close to their hearts due to the passing of Rebakah’s late brother, Richard, who took his own life in September 2023.
Andy’s Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity which offers free peer-to-peer support groups across the UK. The charity aims to break the stigma around men’s mental health and support men in navigating their challenges through open conversation.
Since the tragedy of losing her brother, Rebakah has been relentless in her fundraising efforts for charities such as Andy’s Man Club in order to support those going through silent battles with their mental health.
The team at the Blue Bell Inn along with Rebakah’s family and friends organised two charity football matches, bringing the local community together to support the mental health charity.
The matches, which pitched the Blue Bell Inn’s football team versus Alfreton’s Veterans at the Sleetmoor Football Ground with the final score being 8-2. The second match saw the Blue Bell Inn versus MJ Allen at the David Nieper School Ground with MJ Allen edging the game 4-3 in two good-natured games.
Hundreds of locals came out to watch both the matches and offer their support to the cause, with a grand total of £1,460 raised by the end of both matches, completely surpassing the pub’s fundraising expectations.
Pub operator Rebakah said: “To see the community come together to support such an important cause in memory of my late brother is a prime example of what makes our Alfreton community so brilliant.
“My brother suffered in silence, and charities like Andy’s Man Club help prevent similar tragedies, and offer those suffering such vital support. This is why we chose to fundraise for them and will continue to support mental health charities in the future with more fundraising events planned.
“Bringing the community together for the two matches is the reason I love my job, the sense of community we felt in the weeks running up to the event and on the day is unbelievable. We can’t thank everyone who put their hand in their pocket to support such an important cause enough.”
Located on 30 High Street, the popular pub plans to build on its success with continued fundraising events designed to engage the community.
For more information about upcoming events at the Blue Bell Inn, visit its website https://www.craftunionpubs.com/blue-bell-inn-alfreton