Barry Bannan and Super Shay – Sheffield Wednesday captain makes sizeable donation as Wednesdayite hits remarkable charity target

Young Shay has raised over £36,000 for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in recent years, and hit his latest £10,000 target this week after Bannan made a sizeable donation to the cause.

The youngster’s dad, Jason O’Grady, who watched him cycle from Hillsborough to Oakwell over the weekend before Wednesday beat Barnsley 2-1, says that there were a few tears from Shay after Bannan and his partner, Chloe, showed their support for the cause.

“It was just at bedtime, he was just about to go to sleep,” Jason told The Star. “Barry’s partner Chloe had donated £100, and he’d messaged her to say thank you. Then the phone pinged and it was Barry’s £670 to hit the £10,000

“There was a bit of tears, not crying, but he was well happy… After that he was up again, went downstairs and smashed six custard creams and a glass of milk!

“To be fair, Barry has been brilliant with him all through lockdown to be honest. Shay’s old coach knows Barry, and we met him a few times. He’s Shay’s favourite player, and they follow each other on social media. They’ve become friends now, and Barry will message and ask how he’s doing, and is genuinely interested in what he’s doing. He’s such a great guy.”

Shay’s Triathlon, which also received a £10,000 donation from Dejphon Chansiri in 2019, has done all sorts to raise money for Bluebell Wood since starting out raising money for his younger cousin, Evie-May O’Grady Askwith.

The youngster was named as The Star’s Sheffield Wednesday Personality of the Year for 2020 in recognition of his impressive efforts, and it certainly looks like he won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

As for Bannan, it is not the first time that he’s helped a local cause looking to do good in the community, and Wednesdayites will be delighted to see their skipper getting so involved with his adopted city of Sheffield.

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