Gala dinner raises £23,000 for MMMF
Three 1968 European Cup winners and relatives from 11 families affected by the Munich Air Disaster were present as the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation (MMMF) celebrated its annual gala dinner.
A fantastic £23,056 was raised to support the work of the MMMF, which was formed in 2018 by a group of United fans seeking to preserve and enhance the legacy of the disaster and its victims. To that end, more than £120,000 has been donated to a selection of charities over the last six years, including a record-breaking £60,000 in 2024 alone.
The charities chosen reflect the MMMF’s ambitions to support disadvantaged young people in locations closely related to the tragedy. As a result, financial support is offered to two Munich-based organisations, Buntkicktgut and Pikassio Libero, and to a children’s sport organisation called FC Studenski Grad in Belgrade, where the team played their final game.
Closer to home, representatives from two children’s hospices — Derian House in Chorley and Francis House in Didsbury — were present after sizeable donations to their work, as were those from the Depaul charity for homeless children in Manchester.
The MMMF Gala Dinner 2024
At the MMMF's latest gala dinner, Duncan Edwards' 93-year-old cousin was present to receive a gift...
With former team-mates Brian Kidd and Paddy Crerand watching on, 1968 European Cup-winning goalkeeper Alex Stepney participated in a touching Q&A about the impact of the Babes and Munich on him, before, during and after playing for United. Stepney, now 82, was signed by Sir Matt Busby in 1966 as the club sought to fulfil the dream of the Babes: to become European champions. Hearing his memories of the era was a clear highlight of the evening for many in attendance, and MMMF chairman Ifty Ahmed picked out another moment as a favourite.
“The highlight of the night was Duncan Edwards’s 93-year-old cousin, Betty Cooksey and her son John being presented with the framed ribbons from the MMMF wreath laid at the memorial site in Trudering, Munich in 2023,” Ifty said.
“It was very emotional and they got a standing ovation from everybody there.
“We were delighted to welcome 11 Busby Babes families in total, as part of the 350 guests at the dinner. In addition, our three Greater Manchester charities, Derian House Children’s Hospice, Depaul Youth Homeless charity, and Francis House Children’s Hospice were all in attendance. Not forgetting Brian Kidd, Alex Stepney and Paddy Crerand, all in the 1968 European Cup-winning team, a mere 10 years after the disaster.
“Thank you for all the support, we raised a total of £23,056 on the night.”