NOTTINGHAM Panthers have smashed their charity fundraising target by more than £10,000.
The ice hockey team set out to raise £5,000 for breast cancer research at Nottingham's hospitals last September, but they have now tripled their target.
The Panthers launched their fundraising by selling shirts they wore in pre-season friendlies against Italian team Asiago.
Then in November they held a golf day and at Christmas they launched a You Tube song and asked fans for donations – as well as holding a bucket collection at a game.
Those events alone helped them raise more than £6,000, so Panthers manager Gary Moran said they decided to just keep going.
Now they have handed over more than £15,000 to the Nottingham Hospitals Charity, which supports the QMC and City Hospital.
Mr Moran said: "It's fantastic. I really hoped we would get to £10,000 secretly as it's a very special research project into breast cancer in Nottingham – but will help women and families all around the country."
The bulk of the money came in when the Panthers auctioned special green shirts last week after their match against Fife on Sunday.
Mr Moran said the shirts, which were unique and designed to be auctioned, are unlikely to be made again. "It was something we've never worn before," he said.
"People said why green – it's green for Nottingham, it's Robin Hood green – it's just something a bit different."
He added: "The fans are amazing in the way they support our fund-raising, always have been, just a phenomenal response.
"One shirt went for a grand and nothing went for less than £200. It was standing room only and a brilliant outcome."
Barbara Cathcart, chief executive of the Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: "We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the Nottingham Panthers and all their fans for raising such an incredible amount of money in just a few months.
"The money raised will help fund breast cancer research at Nottingham's hospitals."
