Sheffield Wednesday chairman David Storch pledges support to Sheffield Children's Hospital with incredible gesture
Sheffield Wednesday chairman David Storch has vowed to support the Sheffield Children’s Hospital as much as he can.
Sheffield Wednesday chairman David Storch has pledged to be a “reliable patron” of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, promising to support the charity alongside others at the club.
In the summer of 2025, the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity announced that a pride of lion sculptures would be taking over South Yorkshire in 2026 to celebrate the hospital’s 150th anniversary. The sculptures have now been auctioned to raise vital funds for the charity.
The lions were scattered across the region, including outside Hillsborough. Storch has now confirmed his support for the hospital by purchasing an unspecified number of the sculptures at auction to raise money for the charity.
Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan also has close ties to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, having become an ambassador in January 2024. Storch has confirmed that he will stand alongside the Scot in supporting the hospital, pledging to support it for the duration of his tenure as Wednesday chairman.
Storch posted on his X (formerly Twitter) page: "At the @SheffChildrens auction last night, before auctioning off the Sheffield Wednesday lion, the gentleman introducing expressed hope that the new owners of @swfc would support the Children’s Hospital which the prior owner hadn’t.
"Please know that, for as long as I remain the proud chairman and owner of our amazing club, @swfc and me will be reliable patrons of @SheffChildrens. Their work is so important… I will always support their efforts as they work tirelessly to provide world-class treatment and care today and long into the future for the kids and families who depend on them.
"I stand alongside @bazzabannan25 and his incredible support for @SheffChildrens.
"@SheffChildrens is a very important part of the broader Sheffield community, which has been kind to embrace @michaelestorch and me, plus our friend Tom Costin and the investors he brought along as we, together with the talented and committed team @swfc, work day and night to return the club to its historic glory. And make no mistake… we will!
"When passing or entering our beloved Hillsborough, I invite each and everyone of you as you gaze at the beautiful artistry of Zoe Burger and her Sheffield Wednesday Lion and Lioness you stop for a moment and think of the kids and families who depend on the hospital and the remarkable staff that works there, stop for a moment, say a prayer or two for successful outcomes everyday.
"The work they do @SheffChildrens is so important. It is my honour to show my support by purchasing the lions and more. I do so with my own ten grandchildren in mind.
"I’d also like to recognise the incredible artistry of renowned artist Zoe Burger. Thank you Ms Burger.
“#WAWAW.”