Rafa Benitez in further donation to Hillsborough families

Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has once again pledged a significant amount of money to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

On leaving the club in the summer of 2010, the Spaniard wrote out a cheque for £96,000 for the cause, and has this week donated a further £2,800 through the Montse Benitez Foundation – his wife’s charity.

He received a standing ovation from the Kop when he returned to the club to observe the 22nd Hillsborough Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield in April this year – an occasion which brought the 51-year-old to tears.

The new donation was raised through ticket sales of a recent ‘Evening with Rafa Benitez’ event at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre.

Benitez still lives on Merseyside with his wife and children and told the Liverpool Echo, “I regard Merseyside as my home because of the way my family have been accepted and treated by the people and I know that the group is such an important cause. I’m happy to help.”

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the HFSG, said the donation will go a long way as the families continue their fight for justice.

She said, “It helps us for pay for the running costs such as phone lines, letters, stamps and organising transport for official meetings.

“Without that support our group would have collapsed. Rafa is doing this for the 96. He is a true gent.”

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