HOWZAT for a generous gesture! Big-hearted cricketers have stumped up £400 in donations for a charity helping a Newton Abbot boy with an incurable condition.
Stanley Murphy, who is 18 months old, was born with Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and life-limiting genetic disorder.
Only one in 360,000 children worldwide are born with the condition, which reduces mental and physical agilities.
Stanley is unlikely to live beyond five years old – and needs round-the-clock attention from parents Kevin and Emma, who live in Albert Terrace,
The Cats Foundation – Cure and Action for Tay-Sachs – is a charity raising money supporting families who have a child with the disease.
Kevin, who plays cricket for Newton Abbot team South Devon CC, was stunned when team-mates held a collection after a game and handed him £400 to give to the charity.
‘Every year we play a charity game in memory of Phil Blackmore, an old team-mate who tragically took his own life,’ said Mr Murphy.
‘Normally we have a raffle after the match and give the proceeds to charity.
‘Some of the lads had seen the story in the Mid-Devon Advertiser about Stanley and wanted to help.
‘They held a collection, which raised £350, then one of the old players who arrived late put in a £50 donation to bring it up to £400.
‘It came as a total surprise to me as no one said a word before the match.
‘It was a really generous gesture and I can’t thank everyone enough.”