Strauss concern as virus takes a toll on charities

OCTOBER FUNDRAISING NOW THE AIM

- Dean Wilson

SEVEN years ago, Andrew Strauss was preparing to run the London Marathon with his wife Ruth – and loving it.

Next month, he was due to be running it in memory of his late partner to raise money for the foundation in her name. But coronavirus has put paid to that, just as it has to his beloved cricket.

Charitable fundraising is said to be down 40 per cent across the board already due to the crisis and, with more events being cancelled or postponed, that number is set to go up.

For the good of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, the former England skipper has his fingers crossed that the marathon will go ahead on the new date of October 4, and that the cricket season is up and running by the end of July, when the Lord’s Test against Pakistan is due to stage a second ‘Red for Ruth’ day.