A charity football match is due to be held this Sunday 21st July at Melksham’s Oakfield Stadium to raise funds for four vital charities. In addition to the match, there will be a charity raffle, various refreshment stalls selling food and live music.
Organisers aim to raise around £2,000 for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, Dorothy House, Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity and The Ben Saunders Foundation.
Two teams will go head-to-head on the day: Beatables FC, set up by a Trowbridge resident, Kurtis Betteridge, and Fenners United, set up by a local man, Chris Fenwick. The teams are made up of friends, family and former non-league football players.
“As this is a charity event for four charities, there are different reasons for choosing the charities both teams are representing in this event,” explained Kurtis. “For ourselves, Beatables FC, we have chosen The Ben Saunders Foundation due to their incredible work in memory of Ben Saunders, a young footballer, son and brother who established the charity during his own experience with a rare form cancer. The Ben Saunders Foundation provides much-needed respite and time away for families and young adults who are dealing with cancer. Their work enables families to spend time together during the difficult periods that come with a cancer diagnosis.”
This is the third charity football match held by Beatables FC, with previous events taking place in Bradford-on-Avon and Penydarren Park in Wales in previous years. In total, over £5,000 has been raised in the events for Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind and Motor Neurone Disease Association.
“Fenwick FC has chosen Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, Dorothy House and Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity due to the incredible work they do in assisting the founder of their team, Chris Fenwick,” said Kurtis. “Chris was diagnosed with an incurable cancer called neuroendocrine cancer, also known as carcinoid cancer, in February 2021 and has been working incredibly hard to raise money for the charities that have supported him since then.”
This is a non-ticketed event but the organisers ask for donations at the gate. Kurtis said, “We will be hoping to welcome as many spectators as possible to the ground from midday onwards. We will be hosting a charity raffle as well as having various refreshments stalls selling food and sweet treats during the day. There will also be live music.”
The match will kick off at 3pm. To make a donation to the charities, visit the givewheel page https://shorturl.at/lWTZQ
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