Newfield, the Isle of Man-based international eGaming company, has announced Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation as its Charity of the Year for 2017.

Staff selected the Foundation to receive donations from events and fundraising organised by Newfield throughout the year, and the support has already made a strong start with a first donation of more than ?6,800.

Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation was established following the tragic death of popular Isle of Man footballer Craig Lunt from an undiagnosed heart defect. It funds heart screening of young people in the Island to try and prevent further tragedies as well as supporting the provision of life-saving defibrillators Island-wide.

Newfield Director Mark Reynolds said: ‘Many people who work here at Newfield are involved in the Island sporting scene and have been touched by Craig’s story and the fantastic work the Foundation does in his memory. We also benefitted from the Foundation’s work ourselves last year when a defibrillator was donated and installed at our offices in Douglas.

‘We are really pleased to have chosen the Foundation as our 2017 Charity of the Year and look forward to working with the charity.’

The first fundraising event of the year was Newfield’s annual staff party, held at the Claremont Hotel in Douglas. Staff and guests enjoyed a ‘Round the World’ themed event which included a raffle to raise money for the Foundation. Sales of raffle tickets to staff, party guests and other business, including Standard Bank and SMP Partners, raised a tremendous ?3,308.10.

Newfield Directors agreed to match that sum and, with the addition of cash raised during a Christmas jumper day, the first donation of the year totalled ?6,845.30.

Paul Healey from the Foundation added: ‘Being chosen as Newfield’s Charity of the Year is a huge boost to Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, which relies so heavily on the support of the Manx community to carry on its work in Craig’s memory. We were delighted to be selected and to then receive such a tremendous first donation has absolutely blown us away.

‘We’re looking forward to a great year working with the Newfield team and know it will help us do even more to safeguard young lives around the Isle of Man.’

Photo - Newfield staff and guests enjoy dinner at the firm’s annual party, where thousands of pounds were raised for Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation.