Heart on your Sleeve shirt patches and pin badges available to buy

Sunderland AFC players will wear their heart on their sleeve for the Foundation of Light and we’re bringing supporters the chance to do the same.

Our shirt sleeve patches, which will be worn by the Black Cats against QPR thanks to Hays Travel’s donation of their sleeve sponsorship space, are now available for supporters to purchase.

The patches can be bought from Beacon of Light reception at £5 each with limited availability.

Our Foundation Community Club were the first team to turn out with their heart on their sleeve. If you would like a set for your team, contact marketing@foundationoflight.co.uk

Another way to wear your Heart on your Sleeve is through our pin badges, with limited stock still available from the Beacon of Light reception or through click and collect online at £3 each.

‘Heart on your Sleeve’ uses the power of football to urge Sunderland supporters to come together to help and inspire one another, focusing on three main areas of wellbeing – passion, physical health, and mental health.

Recent studies have shown that health inequalities in the UK are getting worse, with the gap between the North East and the South of England growing. 

People in communities across our region are living shorter lives; spending most of them in poor health.

Foundation of Light works with up to 20,000 young people and families every year and aim to tackle these issues, encouraging parents and grandparents to stay both physically and mentally active to inspire the next generation to do the same.

Here are ways in which your donations can support the Foundation in the delivery of Heart on your Sleeve:

• £5 would pay for a young person with a disability access to a sports session
• £8 pays for an older person to attend activities to stay socially active and improve physical and mental wellbeing 
• £40 will pay for a young person to have access to sessions supporting their physical, mental, and emotional health
• £100 allows us to develop mental health resources to support up to five people

There are plenty of ways to get involved in our campaign ahead of Foundation of Light Day. Here’s a few more ways supporters can get involved:

Red and White Week will run the week before the QPR game, from Monday 11 March, encouraging workplaces, schools, and businesses to host a day for people to wear their Sunderland AFC shirts in return for a £1 donation. Get in touch, and we may be able to organise a visit from SAFC mascot Samson. Email marketing@foundationoflight.co.uk  

The Cashback Ticket Scheme offers local schools and sports clubs across the region access to affordable matchday tickets for supporters and cashback from the tickets goes to both the Foundation and schools and sports clubs involved.  

We are also looking for as many SAFC fans as possible to 'Show us your Heart.' Share your '#HeartOnYourSleeve' photos in the run-up to Foundation of Light Day for a chance to feature on the matchday programme cover. 

#BuzzChallenge – remember the game Buzz Off?! The nostalgia will come flooding back in the Matchday Fan Zone at the Beacon of Light with the Foundation of Light’s Buzz Challenge game – make sure you give it a go and try and make the leaderboard.