Stamford Bridge opens its doors to Samaritan’s Purse

250 guests descended onto Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club, last Friday for an evening of glitz and glamour. From senior members of Barclays Bank to welsh rugby players, the medley of guests all had one thing in common - they were there to support the work of Samaritan’s Purse in Liberia.

Sky Sports presenter John-Paul Davies was the man who made it all happen. The reason behind the fundraising dinner was John’s heart for the people of Liberia. Back in 2009, John travelled to Liberia with a team of eight men to experience first-hand the nation ravaged by civil war. But amidst the pain, John also saw hope and new development through the work of Samaritan’s Purse.

As a result of his life-impacting trip, John spent the last year planning for Friday’s event, 'Dinner @ the Bridge'. As John put it: "If ‘what we do in life, echoes in eternity’, then every day should count. I would challenge anyone to go on an Samaritan's Purse Discovery Team and return home unchanged.”

Generous sponsors for the evening donated auction items ranging from Venetian paintings to tickets to the 2010 World Cup. Special guests included rugby players, Shaun Edwards and Martin Offiah, as well as Samaritan’s Purse Liberia Director, Kendall Kauffeldt.

“It was an excellent night and John’s hard work was a real blessing to God’s work through our hands,” explains Andy Ransberry, who led the team to Liberia back in 2009. “The estimated £20,000 raised will go a long way to helping transform lives in Liberia.”