Sir – On Sunday, July 8, more than 1,500 people attended our second charity football tournament and fun day in aid of Helen & Douglas House. We would like to take this opportunity, via your newspaper, to send our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers, sponsors and well-wishers who made our event such a success. We have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of the local community. At a time of economic difficulty, it is touching to see that people are still willing to reach deep into their pockets to help those less fortunate than themselves. We must also thank our generous sponsors who have made our event possible. The full list is available on our website but special mention must go to the Midcounties Co-operative, Temple Lounge, S&C Lettings and Simpli Fresh. Our biggest thanks are reserved for our dedicated army of volunteers (some as young as nine), who have worked tirelessly for several weeks and months. Their enthusiasm is contagious and has carried us through testing times.

The list of volunteers is too long to state here but we would like to thank each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication. We are still in the process of counting all the money and pledges that we have received but initial estimates are that we will raise in excess of £6,000, a phenomenal amount given the current economic climate when other events are being cancelled on a weekly basis.

This money will make a real difference to the children and residents of Helen & Douglas House. It is a real testament to the community spirit of East Oxford that we have been able to raise so much, long may it continue! Shajaat Hussain, Dr Amar Lati, Amber Ghulam, Bradley Porter, Shabaz Hussain, Shakil Ahmed, Mohammed Hussain , Oxford Charity Fun Days