Red for Ruth Day Returns to Lord's on 11th July for ENG vs IND Test Match

On Friday, July 11, the cricket world will once again come together at Lord’s for a special cause — the sixth annual #RedForRuth day in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation. What began as a personal tribute by former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss has grown into a powerful movement that raises awareness and funds for families dealing with the loss of a parent to non-smoking lung cancer.

The foundation was created in memory of Ruth Strauss, who passed away in December 2018 at the age of 46 after being diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. At the time, the couple’s two sons were just 10 and 13. The experience of navigating such a difficult period as a family inspired Andrew and Ruth to push for better resources, open conversations around grief, and targeted support for children and parents during the toughest moments of their lives. 

Since its launch in 2019, the Ruth Strauss Foundation has made incredible strides. As Sir Andrew puts it, “Ruth would be absolutely stunned by the impact we’ve been able to make in the past six years thanks to the support of the public. We’ve trained nearly a thousand healthcare professionals, and with more support this will double by the end of the year. We’ve already helped hundreds of families with our support services and peer groups, and we have a vision to help thousands more every year.” 

He continued, “Your generosity means there are more and more ways to ensure that when a parent hears they don’t have long to live, their children are equipped to manage the death of a parent and develop the resilience to prepare for the future together as a family. Once again, if you can, please dig deep and support people going through one of life’s toughest tests.” 

Lord’s will be draped in red once again, with fans encouraged to wear red clothing — and you can expect to see red bucket hats everywhere, including on the heads of media personnel during the broadcast build-up. Traditionally a part of the Ashes series, this year’s Red for Ruth day will take place during India’s Test match at Lord’s, bringing global attention to a cause that touches the lives of thousands each year. The day mirrors similar initiatives like ‘Blue for Bob’ at Edgbaston and Australia’s ‘Jane McGrath Day’ at the MCG. 

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