Marcos Ayerza opens Leicester allotment
Ex-rugby star Marcos Ayerza joined people supported by Affinity Trust as he opened a new allotment for people with learning disabilities in Leicester on Monday 25 September.
Marcos, who played for Leicester Tigers for more than 10 years, and represented Argentina internationally, has been a proud supporter of Affinity Trust for many years.
He has visited the charity’s Leicester-based services and met some of the people the organisation supports, many of whom are keen Tigers fans.
Affinity Trust was a beneficiary of Marcos’ testimonial year in 2014/2015, and allocated the money raised to people supported in Leicestershire.
The people we support in Leicester will be able to grow their own plants, fruit and vegetables”
Some of the funds were used to buy new garden equipment and furniture. Money was also used to fund the allotment in Walshe Road in the east of the city. Since taking it on, Affinity Trust staff have turned an overgrown patch of brambles into a tidy, safe and accessible allotment – including a shed featuring a Leicester Tigers mural.
Opening the allotment, Marcos planted a tree, and was presented with a cake in Tigers colours.
Michael Baines, divisional director, said: “Many thanks to Marcos for all his support for our work. It was wonderful to have so many of the people we support joining Marcos to open the allotment.
“The people we support in Leicester will be able to use this allotment to grow their own plants, fruit and vegetables, or simply to spend time in a relaxed, sensory environment.”
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