Andy Murray's cancer-stricken best friend Ross Hutchins invited to cheer him on from royal box

 
Brit hope: Andy Murray is in action this afternoon
24 June 2013

Andy Murray’s bid for Wimbledon glory got off to an emotional start today as his cancer-stricken best friend was invited to cheer him on from the royal box.

The world No 2 is hoping to win the tournament for his former doubles partner Ross Hutchins and will wear a badge on his tennis whites in support of The Royal Marsden hospital which is treating him for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Murray is understood to have lobbied Wimbledon chiefs to invite Hutchins, 28, into the VIP box as a guest.

The Scot helped raise more than £250,000 for the hospital last week through the Rally for Cancer charity match at Queen’s Club and by donating his prize money from winning the tournament. The gesture so impressed officials at the All England Club that they also made a donation to the hospital and agreed to host Hutchins.

Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said the player’s help for the hospital was “a terrific gesture”.

It is believed that if Murray ends the 76-year wait for a British Wimbledon champion, he could donate part of the £1.6 million prize money to the hospital.

The 26-year-old US Open champion said: “I want to help raise as much money and awareness as possible so The Royal Marsden can continue the vital work it does, which I’ve heard all about through Ross.”

Murray promised to “give everything” as he set out on his quest for the title against Benjamin Becker.

Also invited into the royal box today were Pippa and James Middleton, as well as the Duke of Kent and former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

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