Cricket: Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen is batting for charity

Madsen will display the league sponsor’s sticker on his bats for the remainder of the season and in return, LV= will donate £250 to Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, as nominated by Madsen.

He said: “I am delighted to be able to hand my support to Sands this season. It is an incredibly worthy cause which is close to my heart.

“The support and help the charity offers people is second to none and I hope my donation can help them continue their excellent work.”

Sands is an organisation that offers support to families following the death of a baby, before during or shortly after birth.

The support is extended to more than just the immediate family, and Sands core aims also include research into practices to help reduce the loss of babies’ lives.

Carolyn Bray, Fundraising Manager and spokesperson for Sands, said: “We are very grateful for the donation from LV=, it will make a real difference to the work that we do.

“To have Wayne championing our cause on the cricket field is just brilliant and everyone involved with the charity will be cheering Wayne on for the rest of the season.”

Warwickshire’s Tim Ambrose, Leicestershire’s Michael Thornley and James Middlebrook of Northamptonshire have all signed up to take part in the initiative.