Coventry City defender Richard Wood went back to school yesterday as part of the Football Association's Community Shield Fund scheme to hand over a cheque to RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home on Wheelwright Lane.
The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) school at Rushton provides specialist education and care round the clock to young people who are blind or partially sighted with multiple disabilities and complex health needs.
Richard Wood handed over a cheque for more than £600, a donation from Coventry City Football Club which will go towards an extensive redevelopment project at the site.
Currently the school can look after 19 young residents and has six day places at the school.
The RNIB has embarked on a £30 million redevelopment which will see the service accommodate up to 60 young people with the school able to take on an additional 10 day pupils.
Due for completion in 2011, the new facilities will include purpose built bungalows, a ten-classroom school with multi-sensory environments, music rooms, therapy
rooms and a water therapy suite. As one of the club's nominated charities for last season, the Sky Blues worked with RNIB to help promote its appeal for the Rushton redevelopment project, holding a collection at the Ricoh Arena and donating signed merchandise for fund raising.
Brenda Smith, Head of Care for RNIB Rushton, said, "It was fantastic that Richard took the time out to come and visit us. Our young people really enjoyed meeting a City player and I think Richard enjoyed meeting the children and staff too."
"The redevelopment of Rushton School and Children's Home is the largest capital investment ever made by RNIB and we still need to raise a substantial amount of money to help fund our transformation."
"We are really appreciative of the support Coventry City Football Club and the Sky Blues fans have shown us over the last 12 months and we are looking forward to inviting the staff and players down to see the new buildings once they are completed."
If you would like to fund raise for us or take part in our IncrEDIBLE Relay then please call Fund raising Manager Sue Villiers on 01933 313158.
To find out more about RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home or to make an online donation to the appeal, visit www.rnib.org.uk/rushton