Dan Burn named PFA Community Champion for charity work with Newcastle United Foundation

Newcastle United’s Dan Burn has been named Professional Footballers’ Association Community Champion 2022/23, celebrating his work off the pitch enriching his hometown area.

The 31-year-old defender was nominated for the accolade after taking time to support the work of Newcastle United Foundation, inspiring dozens of young people and families he met while supporting the Magpies’ official charity arm.

The PFA Community Champion Awards recognise players deeply involved in community around them and lending a hand to their Club’s charity work throughout the season.

During his first season on Tyneside, Blyth-born Burn visited children receiving treatment at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle. There, he learned more about the Foundation’s work in the hospital’s paediatric oncology wards with Foundation staff providing respite support for young patients and their families.

Burn spent time joining in with ward-based games adapted for patients, while also getting to know the families spending time in hospital. Through 60 hours of Foundation staff contact time per week, Burn learnt more about the young patients building strong relationships with the team and who are inspired by Newcastle United in the community.

On receiving the PFA Community Champion Award, Burn said: “It is very humbling to win this award. This is my community that I grew up and has always been special to me and I feel privileged to be able to help our community, supporting incredible initiatives.

“There have been a number of community events this season that have been really touching, meeting inspirational people and it’s important that we can continue to make a difference to the lives of those living on our doorstep.”

The key figure for the Magpies also attended Newcastle United Foundation’s Building Foundations Awards ceremony, celebrating the inspirational achievements of North East community members connected by Newcastle United.

On the night, Burn presented the Disability Player of the Year Award on stage to Harry Brown, an aspiring football coach, who was ecstatic to meet his United hero.

Steve Beharall, Newcastle United Foundation CEO, said: “As a Foundation, we see every day just how important Newcastle United is in our community and having a role model like Dan who is from the North East and who has realised his dream of playing for his boyhood club is truly inspirational for our participants.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of the whole team at Newcastle United and we’re thrilled to recognise that extra effort than Dan has put in off the pitch during the season.”

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