Darts champion Luke Littler raises £2,500 for cancer charity
Darts world champion Luke Littler has raised £2,500 for a cancer charity after backing a winner at last week’s Cheltenham Festival, reports BritPanorama.
The 19-year-old, currently ranked world number one, attended the prestigious racing event alongside fellow darts professionals Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall. Littler’s successful wager on Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle resulted in the substantial donation to The Matthew22 Fund, an organisation dedicated to supporting young cancer patients and their families.
The teenage sensation selected the charity to receive his winnings after his chosen horse crossed the finish line first, continuing his ongoing support for the cause. The charity bet was organised in collaboration with tipsters Pro Sports Advice, who invited all three darts stars to stake £1,000 each on a horse of their choosing, with any returns going to good causes.
Littler placed his faith in Lossiemouth, the Willie Mullins-trained mare ridden by jockey Paul Townend, selecting the horse for a straight win in the prestigious Champion Hurdle. When his selection proved successful, the world number one was given the opportunity to nominate which charitable organisation would benefit from his winnings, ultimately choosing The Matthew22 Fund to receive the £2,500 payout.
Sharing a screenshot of his betting slip on Instagram, Littler wrote: “Cheltenham charity bet Lossiemouth was my pick for a straight win and it done the job and wanted the money to go to @thematthew22fund.” The charity expressed their gratitude on Facebook, stating: “Everyone at The Matthew22 Fund would like to thank prosportsadviceltd for their charity bet at the Cheltenham races.”
The organisation added, “We are delighted that lukethenukelittler picked our charity to donate his winnings to. This has raised an amazing £2500 to help us continue to support young people and their families who are facing cancer and other life-changing illnesses.” The Matthew22 Fund was established to honour the memory of Matthew Hollingsworth, who passed away in March 2022 at just 22 years old following a battle with bone cancer.
Since its founding, the charity has accumulated more than £160,000 to assist cancer patients and their families, whilst also providing sponsorship for community events and projects. This latest donation marks the second occasion Littler has contributed to the fund’s efforts. In December last year, the darts star donated a signed shirt to be auctioned off in a raffle benefiting the organisation, demonstrating his continued commitment to supporting young people affected by cancer and life-changing illnesses.
Littler will return to action in the Premier League on Thursday night, with the teenager currently sitting second in the standings. As the darts world continues to evolve, Littler’s philanthropic efforts remind us that even in competitive arenas, acts of generosity resonate far beyond the sport itself.
