With our annual Christmas Appeal in full swing, ordinarily many supporters would be gearing up to spend the night under the stars at either Celtic Park or St. Anne’s Primary School in Whitechapel, for our Glasgow and London Sleep Out events.

The Sleep Out events have played a pivotal role in helping us to raise funds during our Christmas Appeals in the past, with over £63k raised in 2019 but, like so many other events, these have not been possible this year due to restrictions currently in place.

However, as the crippling effects of the pandemic have added unbearably to the pressures on so many, the assistance provided by Celtic FC Foundation to those who are most vulnerable is now more crucial than ever before.

That’s why we’re humbly encouraging supporters to help us to fill the enormous fundraising gap left due to the absence of our Sleep Out events, by instead ‘Staying Up for the Champions’.

Among those getting behind our London Sleep Out in 2019 was Chandra Connaghan, who now heads up a brand new Celtic Supporters’ Club, the Brother Walfrid East London CSC. Chandra and fellow CSC member, Grant Hamilton, have been keen to show their support for this year’s Appeal, by registering to take part in our first ever Stay Up for the Champions event.

Participants will take on the challenge of staying up from 11.45pm on Friday, December 4 until 5.45am on Saturday, December 5 and there will be a host of entertainment in store to keep fans engaged throughout the night.

The six hour broadcast, hosted by Gerry McCulloch, will feature a live Q&A with Celtic legend, Tom Boyd, an opportunity to choose between highlights of some classic Celtic matches, footage from the ‘Our Nine, Our Time’ DVD, special messages from the first team, Christmas Appeal beneficiary video pieces, a virtual twilight tour of Celtic Park, input from our Foundation Supporters’ Committee and an interactive quiz to play with along at home.

You can take part and enjoy the event from the comfort of your own homes, no matter where you are in the world (government guidance on social distancing and meeting with other households must be followed).

Speaking ahead of the event, Chandra said: “The London Sleep Out last year was a fantastic experience. A coming together of various CSCs and individuals all with the same aim, to honour Brother Walfrid's legacy and help those less fortunate than ourselves. To take part within the grounds of the school where he was Head Teacher and under the lights of St Anne's Church made it extra special.

“We all left there feeling a massive sense of achievement and some of us had spoken about aiming to complete the Sleep Out events in both London and Glasgow, so we're very disappointed that these could not take place but the circumstances are completely understandable.

'The Brother Walfrid East London CSC was only founded in July 2020 and, in having Brother Walfrid within our title, we wanted to establish and instil our charity work, especially with Celtic FC Foundation, as quickly as possible.'

"However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been limited in the amount of activity we have been able to do. Therefore, taking part in events such as Stay Up for the Champions gives us an opportunity to carry on fundraising in new and inventive ways.

“A few members from our CSC and other CSCs have discussed setting up a Zoom type call on the night where we will check in with each other every so often to spread a bit of cheer and motivation. I'm personally looking forward to 'getting together' with my Celtic family and enjoying this event together. I can’t wait to see what the Foundation have in store for us on the night.

“We are all struggling during these difficult times and this extends to charities which strive to help those less fortunate, such as Celtic FC Foundation. We felt that it was crucial to get involved because every penny counts when there are people out there who are lonely, hungry and homeless or children who will wake up on Christmas Day without a present to open. In taking part in Stay Up for the Champions, we hope that our CSC will help Celtic FC Foundation to support those most in need this Christmas.”

Registration for Stay Up for the Champions is now open HERE. The non-refundable registration fee is £19 per person and all we ask is that participants commit to raising a minimum of £67 (after entry fee). Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions before completing the process.

Participants who are under the age of 16 years old on Friday, December 4, 2020, must have consent/approval from their parent or legal guardian.

Upon registration, you will receive your sponsorship pack including a sponsor form and details on how to set up your online fundraising page. Participants will also receive a certificate upon completion.

Proceeds raised will be devoted to the Christmas Appeal phase of our Football for Good Fund, with a particular focus on our charity partners working with those facing homelessness or living in refuge.

Through the Appeal, we want to help hundreds of local families facing poverty, giving them the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted. With lots of food on the table and gifts for the kids. Making sure Santa pays a visit on Christmas Eve, despite COVID-19.

We also want to support pensioners on our doorstep, by lending a hand at a difficult time of year. Local charities need our help too. We can make a massive difference to the lives of children, the homeless, refugees and those living in refuge or facing other challenges.

The generosity and compassion of the Celtic Family is truly unrivalled and once again, we are looking for your support, to get behind this Christmas Appeal phase of the Football for Good Fund.

We are a Club like no other, and together, we can continue to bring comfort to those who need it most.

To get behind the Christmas Appeal phase of the FFGF, you can also:

Donate online HERE
Donate via PayPal HERE
Donate via Facebook HERE
Donate by text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.
Contribute to our Virtual Toy Drive HERE
Sign up for our Boogie for Good sponsored event on Friday, December 11 HERE
Purchase your personalised ‘Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa’ HERE
Purchase our brand new ‘This Land was Made for You and Me’ Foundation T-shirt HERE
Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and AmazonSmile HERE
Purchase your copy of the stunning Gerard Burns Glittering Prize, the perfect Christmas Gift HERE
Contribute via our Christmas Appeal eBay auction, featuring shirts from the AC Milan v Celtic match on Thursday, December 3 (with Celtic FC Foundation branding) and Celtic v St Johnstone on Sunday, December 6 (with Christmas Appeal branding). The auction will run from Monday, December 7 – Saturday, December 12.
Contribute via our Virtual Bucket Collection on Sunday, December 6.

Thank you for your magnificent support.

*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.

Brother Walfrid East London CSC set to stay up for the champions