Esports entrepreneur, Leo Skagerlind leads a celebrity studded gaming initiative to help raise millions for the NHS and its frontline workers during the coronavirus crisis.The NHS Charities Together Cup will see famous sports stars, including veteran England and Chelsea FC football star, John Terry play against other celebrities online in a FIFA 20 tournament.
The tournament, due to ‘kick off’ next week, aims to raise £10m for the NHS as the system struggles to cope with increased demand due to coronavirus, however the initiative’s ultimate goal is to reach £100m.
A spokesperson for the upcoming event said: “It is a knockout FIFA 20 competition featuring eight teams, each comprising three celebs, with a public vote deciding which member represents them in a one-on-one match.”
Terry has been selected as one of eight team captains for the online football event, where fans will be able to donate upwards of £5 to watch the matches, which will be streamed live on FIFA 20.
Other sporting celebrities including mother of tennis champion Andy Murray Judy Murray, will battle against each other from their homes, with the public being able to decide what team they will represent.
Celebrity Esports CEO, Leo Skagerlind, (pictured).
All donations made to the tournament will go directly to the NHS in the form of “vital funds and services to NHS hospitals, ambulances, mental and community health trusts and health boards,” according to its official website.
Skagerlind, CEO of Celebrity Esports said his desire to raise money for the NHS during the coronavirus crisis came from personal experience. Speaking to the Mirror Online he said:
“Like so many of us, I have loved ones on the NHS frontline and I wanted to do something to inspire people to donate.”
The initiative comes at a time when esports, (online competition sports gaming), is experiencing significant growth.
The esports market is expected to exceed $1.5bn by 2023, showcasing the rising importance of esports as not just a subsidiary of the sporting industry, but as a lucrative sector in its own right.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
