David Hemp Benefit Year Launched

David Hemp, the Glamorgan County Cricket captain, formally launched his Benefit Year on Friday 25th January at a business lunch held at the Crawshay Arms in Cardiff. He was granted a Benefit Year in 2008 by Glamorgan in recognition of 10 years as a capped player with the Club.

Hemp (37) made his Glamorgan debut in 1991 and was a member of the Glamorgan team that won the Sunday League in 1993. Following a five season spell with Warwickshire, he returned to Glamorgan in 2002 and was made captain at the end of the 2006 season.

Last year saw David Hemp representing Bermuda, the country of his birth, in the ICC World Cup, where he memorably scored 76 not out against India. He currently has amassed more than 20,000 runs in First Class and A List cricket and has 27 First Class Hundreds and 5 One Day centuries to his name.

The Rt Hon Earl Spencer DL and David Morgan - President Elect of the International Cricket Council (ICC) – are both Patrons of his Benefit Year, whilst a committee of volunteers will organise a number of fund raising activities and events.

The David Hemp Benefit Year has announced that it will be supporting the Noah’s Ark Appeal in 2008 as its nominated charity. The Noah's Ark Appeal continues to raise money to support the Children's Hospital for Wales and the families who will use its services.

A number of events are planned during the Benefit Year, including sportsman’s dinners, business lunches, as well as cricket and golf events. A special launch dinner will be held at the newly developed Sophia Gardens ground in Cardiff on Friday 4th April, with the recently appointed ECB National Selector Geoff Miller confirmed as guest speaker.

Speaking at the launch David Hemp said, “I am honoured to be granted a Benefit Year by the club and I hope that both cricket fans and business organisations alike will be able enjoy a wide range of activities and events planned during the year. I am also very pleased to be supporting the excellent work being done by the Noah’s Ark Appeal, in its on-going fund raising efforts for what is an extremely worthwhile cause.”

He added,” I am fortunate to have a very able committee who will allow me to focus on the team’s performance on the pitch on what will be a very important year for the club”.

Director of the Noah’s Ark Appeal Suzanne Mainwaring said”

“We are thrilled that David will support the Noah’s Ark Appeal as 2008 will be a very exciting year for us. We will soon be launching a new campaign to support Phase Two of the Children’s Hospital for Wales – the surgical and critical care phase. Helping to complete the Hospital for Wales is a dream for us; we know that bricks alone don’t make a world-class hospital. It is up to us to make sure that state-of the art-equipment is provided for our fabulous medical team to ensure that the sick children receive the very best treatment available. David and the committee will be a great help and we are looking forward to working together.”