A group of dedicated fans are donating money to the Paul Hunter Foundation every time a player makes a century in this year’s Snooker Shoot Out.
The Paul Hunter Foundation will financially benefit from this year’s Snooker Shoot Out
Eight fans who will be attending the four-day event at the Watford Colosseum have decided to put money to a good cause every time a player makes a ton in the quick-fire ten-minute frame competition.
For every century made all of the eight fans involved will donate £5 to charity meaning that a total of £40 will be donated when a player makes a break of 100 or more.
The group have chosen to donate to the Paul Hunter Foundation as it is a charity close to the heart of many snooker players and fans.
The Paul Hunter Foundation, named after the three-times Masters winner who died of cancer in 2006, aims to give disadvantaged, able bodied and disabled youngsters an opportunity to play snooker.
Organising the fund-raising is snooker fan James Wightman who is the man behind the ‘Snooker Smurf’ – a well-known mascot at the Shoot-Out in recent years,
Mr Wightman wrote on his social media pages: “The Snooker Shootout has provided me with some amazing times and fantastic memories. So much so, that I feel that it is time to give something back for the experiences and opportunities that this tournament and the people involved have afforded me.
“This year, myself and the other 7 ‘shootouters’ have decided that we will each donate £5 for EVERY CENTURY made at this years tournament, making a total of £40 per century. There will be 127 matches this year, meaning a possible (and quite daunting £5080!).
“If no centuries are made in the full weekend, we will match, pound for point, the highest break made during the tournament.
“All of the money raised will go to The Paul Hunter Foundation, a charity close to a lot of snooker players and fans hearts.
“£40 may not seem like a huge amount, but we are hoping that this pledge will be the springboard for players, fans, sponsors and anyone else who wants to get involved, to join us in this fundraising mission and help us raise as much as possible.”
Mr Wightman explained how he got involved with the Snooker Smurf campaign in an interview with World Snooker two years ago.
He said it all started when one of his friends won a cuddly blue smurf while in Blackpool for the 2013 Snooker Shoot Out. They had no time and to take it back to the hotel so took it to the venue and it instantly became a hit with fans and players.
For more information about the Paul Hunter Foundation visit www.paulhunterfoundation.org/index.html.
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