A succession of bets placed by a man who left his estate to Oxfam when he died could raise more than a third of a million pounds for the charity over the next ten years, including £100,000 if Roger Federer wins this year’s Wimbledon in June as is widely expected.
The first bet, £250 on Roger Federer to win at least 14 grand slam titles before 2020 at 66/1, won £16,750 for Oxfam and was claimed this month, as Federer heads into the 2010 tennis season as world number one.
The bets, placed with bookmakers William Hill between 2000 and 2005 by Nicholas Newlife from Kidlington, Oxfordshire, are pinned on the future successes of tennis stars Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, and cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Mr Newlife left his entire estate to Oxfam when he died in February 2009, aged 69, which included the outcomes of the series of outstanding bets he had placed.
Federer lost last year’s Australian Open to Nadal in the final, but went on to claim his 14th grand slam at the French Open and 15th at Wimbledon in 2009, winning almost £17,000 for Oxfam in the process.
Cathy Ferrier, Fundraising and Supporter Marketing Director at Oxfam, said:
“We’re enormously grateful to Mr Newlife for his generous gift, and will be keeping a close eye on Wimbledon this year as a result.
“Legacies amount to 10 per cent of our total income from individuals, so they’re essential to us, and as this case proves they can come in all shapes and sizes. It is very easy to make a will and including Oxfam could leave a lasting legacy for those most in need.
