Tuesday 5 September 2017 00:18, UK
John Barnes and Perry Groves helped launch Show Racism the Red Card’s 2017 Wear Red Day.
The duo, along with QPR assistant boss Curtis Fleming, joined a host of politicians and trade union leader Len McCluskey at Unite's Central London headquarters for Monday's launch event.
Wear Red Day is a national day of action which encourages schools, businesses and individuals to wear red and donate £1 to help facilitate the delivery of anti-racism education for young people and adults throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
This year's Wear Red Day falls on the October 20 in England and October 6 in Scotland.
"It's about football and the community all coming together wearing the colour red," Groves told Sky Sports News.
"It's about everybody coming together and uniting against racism and bigotry that we not only have in a minority of football, but in a minority in society.
"I think in the first year there were 8,000 people who wore red and donated £1 and in the second year that went up to 30,000 people, so it's great that it's gaining momentum. Hopefully this year we can get that up to 50,000 people this year that would be fantastic."
Former Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland full-back, Fleming, added: "It's about getting the message across on our launch day. I've been involved with Show Racism the Red Card for 20 years now and it's very, very important to me.
"It's probably changed my life as much as we have tried to change other people's lives. It's changed me because it has given me a real chance to make a difference.
"I think we started with three players and we are now up to 2,200 players, managers, rugby players and other sports people across the country and around Europe [supporting the organisation's work]."
Show Racism the Red Card [SRtRC] chief executive, Ged Grebby, added: "Racism affects everyone and each penny we receive from Wear Red Day will make a real difference to a young person's life.
"The funds raised during Wear Red Day will help us continue to support and educate young people and teachers throughout England."
For more information about Wear Red Day visit the Show Racism the Red Card website here.
