Ex-goal ace Michael Owen and Wales rugby star Sam Warburton will be tackling a whole new ball game when they take on snooker legend Dennis Taylor in aid of a children’s charity.
The trio of sporting heroes are joining forces with North Wales Business Club president Lord Gregory Mostyn to raise money for NSPCC Cymru/Wales with a celebrity snooker challenge.
Tickets are now on sale for The Mostyn Celebrity Pro Am Snooker Challenge, which will also include a three course meal, at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, starting at 6.30pm on May 22.
The event will be hosted by the inimitable BBC presenter Jason Mohammed who will commentate on the snooker challenge and host a sporting Q&A.
The evening is also being supported by Care Forum Wales, who represent the independent social care sector and are raising money for the NSPCC as their chosen charity this year.
Money raised from the event will support the leading children’s charity’s three Welsh service centres in Prestatyn, Swansea and Cardiff, the two Childline bases in Prestatyn and Cardiff and the Speak Out Stay Safe schools service.
The NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe assemblies have already reached more than 80,000 children with their safety messages since they were first launched in Wales in 2011, with specially-trained volunteers delivering assembly presentations on more than 1,500 school visits.
Sam Warburton, who has captained Wales more than any other player and led the British and Irish Lions on two tours, said: “I’m massively looking forward to taking part in The Mostyn Celebrity Pro Am Snooker Challenge.
“It will be great fun taking on Dennis Taylor and Michael Owen, and I hope everyone attending enjoys watching the snooker challenge.”
Sam, who has chosen the NSPCC as the lead charity to benefit from his upcoming testimonial year, added: “I’m pleased that money raised from this event will be going to the NSPCC, as this is a charity very close to my heart and I hope it will make a huge difference to the work they do.”
Dennis Taylor, from Gresford, who won the World Championship in 1985 after a famous final black-ball win over Steve Davis, said: “I’m sure that the snooker challenge will be great fun and I’m looking forward to putting on a good show.”
Michael Owen, who grew up in Hawarden and lives in nearby Northop, added: “I’ve played in World Cups, the Champions League, La Liga in Spain and the Premier League in England, but this is a whole new ball game and I’ll be outside of my comfort zone.
“Dennis Taylor is a snooker legend and it will be a privilege to share a table with him.”
Alan Peterson, Chair of the NSPCC Wales Appeal Board, said: “The Mostyn Celebrity Pro Am Snooker Challenge and Dinner promises to be an unforgettable night with fantastic entertainment, food and fundraising for a brilliant charity.
“We would urge anyone interested to buy their tickets quickly so they don’t miss out.
“All the money raised will make a massive difference to the NSPCC’s fight for every childhood and protecting children from all forms of harm and abuse.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales.
He said: “The NSPCC do vitally important work in preventing abuse, protecting children and transforming lives.
Child abuse is preventable, it’s not inevitable, and it’s to each of us to do everything possible to keep childhood safe from abuse, so children can grow up healthy and thrive.
“That’s why it’s so important to support the NSPCC in general and the pro-celebrity snooker evening in particular.”
To buy ticket email the NSPCC Cymru/Wales at [email protected] or ring them on 02920 108133. Sponsorship packages are also available.
