A footballer and founder of a Bermondsey food bank has vowed not to rest on her laurels despite winning her third community champion award from the players’ union.
Millwall goalkeeper Kelly Webster, who launched the Lions Food Hub last year, which operates from the Millwall Community Trust on Bolina Road, won the prestigious PFA award for the third year running on Tuesday night.
Kelly has now retired from football because of a severe ankle injury, so this will be her last award from the PFA.
“I am truly honoured to receive the PFA community champion award for the 2021/2022 season,” she said.
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“There is still so much work to be done in the community, with the cost of living going up and up. At the Lions food hub our number of families has doubled in recent weeks.
“We continue to keep raising money to help feed as many people as possible while also promoting the right to food as I believe no one should go hungry.
“I am very passionate about mental health too as I have had my own struggles in life. So I will continue to support and help as many people as I can.”
Kelly said that looking ahead to life without football “is a hard one for me as I love it so much”. She has surgery on her “crumbling” ankle bone coming up in June and will see how her rehabilitation goes.
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She added: “I will of course be continuing all the work I do at Lions Food Hub and trying to promote us more to help with getting funding in. If anyone would like to help us they can donate.”
Kelly also thanked her wife Ellen Webster for her support, as well as Sean Daly, the CEO of the Millwall Community trust, for giving the food hub space to operate.
Kelly also thanked Millwall F.C itself for its support and everyone who has donated to the food hub.
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