Cook kicks off Creating Chances

Fulham's Lee Cook made a visit to the Hammersmith and Fulham Action on Disability (HAFAD) end-of-year awards.

Midfielder Cook spent time meeting members, watching performances by the children and young adults before handing out certificates, posing for photographs and signing autographs. This was the club's first player appearance of the Premier League's Creating Chances programme which provides players from each Premier League club to take part in their respective local charity events and good causes.

The club's Community Sports Trust (CST) works with a number of partners to deliver a wide range of sport based programmes and is delighted to support the work carried out by HAFAD.

humbling experience

HAFAD, located on Greswell Street a goalkeeper's kick from Craven Cottage, provides a range of holiday and term-time activities with the aim to develop an integrated service for young (11-25 year olds), disabled people. There are a host of activities on offer such as: computer skills access, sports, arts and special interest projects as well as a range of opportunities which include volunteering and accredited learning schemes.

Cook said: "It was a pleasure to meet and speak to the children and young adults at HAFAD and to celebrate with them their achievements over the past year. I found the event a truly humbling experience as all of the participants showed great enthusiasm, passion and a desire to succeed regardless of their disabilities. This worthwhile organisation, not forgetting the remarkable dedication shown by its staff and volunteers, offers wonderful opportunities for participants to enjoy many activities."

Russell Findlay, Fulham's Head of Community Sports Trust, said: "The aims of Fulham's community programme are to inspire young people through sport to lead healthy active and enjoyable lifestyles and to help them achieve educationally and contribute to society.

"Working with HAFAD is central to this as it gives us the opportunity to work with a local partner to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of disabled young people in Fulham. We admire the work that the team at HAFAD do and are proud to show our support."

great pleasure

John Macneely, First Chance Project Coordinator at HAFAD, added: "It was a great pleasure to welcome Lee to HAFAD, and to see him get into the spirit of our annual open day event. It was such a thrill for the young people to receive their certificates from him, and it always makes a difference for our members to be acknowledged for all that they contribute to the community.

"I think that Lee's contribution was made that little bit more special by the fact that he is from the area; a local man who has achieved so much, acknowledging the achievements of others from his own community.

"HAFAD would like to extend a warm thank you to staff at Fulham FC and the Premier League for the Creating Chances donation of £2000 which will help us to start raising more funds for the redevelopment our sports cage into a modern, safe, accessible multi sports cage."