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Steven Gerrard Makes £96,000 Donation To Hillsborough Family Support Group

Gerrard Makes £96,000 Donation To Hillsborough Family Support Group
The Huffington Post UK/PA
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Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, has made a personal donation of £96,000 to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

The England midfielder's cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley was the youngest of the 96 supporters to die in the 1989 tragedy.

"I think the timing's right and having spoken to the club I've decided to do it now," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo ahead of the 222nd Merseyside derby at Anfield.

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Gerrard pays tribute to the 96 after scoring against Manchester United last season

"It had been in the media a lot so I didn't think it was needed where I had to step in and keep it on everyone's lips and in everyone's minds.

"But now it's gone a little bit quiet over the last couple of weeks, I think the timing's really good to get it back out there - sending another message out about how much we really want this justice."

HFSGroup chairman Margaret Aspinall said Gerrard's donation would make a huge difference.

"It's a wonderful gesture by Steven and we cannot thank him enough," she said.

"It's a lot of money he has donated and it will help all the families a great deal with our work.

Hillsborough Tragedy
Hillsborough(01 of18)
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LIVERPOOL SUPPORTERS ARE HELPED AFTER BEING CRUSHED AGAINST THE SAFETY (credit:PA)
Hillsborough(02 of18)
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Fan in despair after the Hillsborough Disaster (credit:PA)
Hillsborough Tragedy(03 of18)
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Fans leave the ground after the disaster (credit:PA)
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Hillsborough(04 of18)
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One of the fans who came to see the semi -final between Nottingham Forest & Liverpool, is led away after surviving the disaster (credit:PA)
Hillsborough Tragedy(05 of18)
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The injured are carried away on boards by fans who came to see a game of football (credit:PA)
Hillsborough(06 of18)
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Fans try to get away from the crush of the crowd as they pour into the ground (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(07 of18)
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File photo dated 15/04/1989 of Liverpool fans trying to escape severe overcrowding during the FA Cup semi-final football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough. The families of 96 people killed in the Hillsborough tragedy will see thousands of official documents relating to the disaster for the first time today. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(08 of18)
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File photo dated 15/04/1989 of a Liverpool fan at Hillsborough after their FA Cup semi-final football match against Nottingham Forest. The families of 96 people killed in the Hillsborough tragedy will see thousands of official documents relating to the disaster for the first time today. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(09 of18)
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File photo dated 22/10/11 of a banner in memory of those who died in the Hillsborough tragedy at Anfield, as the families of 96 people killed in the Hillsborough tragedy will see thousands of official documents relating to the disaster for the first time today. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(10 of18)
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File photo dated 15/04/2011 of a Hillsborough banner at Anfield, as the families of 96 people killed in the Hillsborough tragedy will see thousands of official documents relating to the disaster for the first time today. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(11 of18)
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File photo dated 15/4/2009 of a hans paying tribute at the Hillsborough Memorial in Liverpool. he families of 96 people killed in the Hillsborough tragedy will see thousands of official documents relating to the disaster for the first time today. (credit:PA)
Liverpool Prepares For Hillsborough Disclosure Day(12 of18)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: The Hillsborough memorial is covered with tributes at Anfield Stadium, the home of Liverpool Football Club on September 10, 2012 in Liverpool, England. On Wednesday relatives and friends of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough football stadium tragedy in Sheffield on 15 April 1989 will see the full disclosure of all documents relating to the disaster when they are made public at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool Prepares For Hillsborough Disclosure Day(13 of18)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: The Hillsborough memorial is covered with tributes at Anfield Stadium, the home of Liverpool Football Club on September 10, 2012 in Liverpool, England. On Wednesday relatives and friends of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough football stadium tragedy in Sheffield on 15 April 1989 will see the full disclosure of all documents relating to the disaster when they are made public at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hillsborough papers to be published(14 of18)
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The front cover of 'With Hope In Your Heart' written by 51 year old Chris Whittle who lives in Burnley. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(15 of18)
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Hillsborough Family Support Group members during a press conference at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral after the release of previously unpublished papers realting to the Hillsborough disaster. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(16 of18)
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Hillsborough Family Support Group members Jenny Hicks (left) and Margaret Aspinall (right) during a press conference at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral after the release of previously unpublished papers realting to the Hillsborough disaster. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(17 of18)
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Hillsborough Family Support Group member Margaret Aspinall, the mother of Hillsborough victim James Aspinall, during a press conference at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral after the release of previously unpublished papers realting to the Hillsborough disaster. (credit:PA)
Hillsborough papers published(18 of18)
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Hillsborough Family Support Group member Trevor Hicks speaks during a press conference at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral after the release of previously unpublished papers realting to the Hillsborough disaster. (credit:PA)

"It's another sign of how good the people of Merseyside are - all they have done for us and continue to do.

"The club itself has been a great help to the Hillsborough Family Support Group and we've had a lot of support from the players as well.

"This money will help with the running costs of our office and the travel expenses of the meetings and talks we attend up and down the country."

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