A WOKINGHAM charity working to find a cure and treatment for childhood brain cancer will benefit from a celebrity football match in October.
Tickets are now available for the Sellebrity Soccer game, which will benefit the Ollie Young Foundation (OYF) and support the charity’s fight to understand and conquer brain cancer in children.
In 2012, just 12 weeks after diagnosis and just one day short of his sixth birthday, Ollie Young died from a brain tumour.
His parents, Sarah Simpson and Simon Young, determined to keep Ollie’s enthusiasm, energy and sense of fun alive, set up a foundation in his name.
OYF raises money for research into effective treatment and defeat of childhood brain cancer, and so far the charity has raised £761,000.
Their latest fundraising event is a celebrity football match organised by Sellebrity Soccer which gathers UK personalities for games to raise money for good causes.
Sarah Simpson said: “Ollie would have loved this, it would have been right up his street, because football was his thing.
“It’s the first time we have done a Sellebrity Soccer game, so we’re hoping for a great turnout.
“It’s a family friendly game, so should appeal to all ages.”
Previous players have included comedian and actor Jack Whitehall, comedian Alan Carr, media personality and model Katie Price, singer Shane Ward, singer Sam Bailey, and footballer Adam Drury.
Recently confirmed, and getting their football boots ready for the Ollie Young match, are: singer, dancer and actor Lee Latchford-Evans of 90s pop-dance band Steps, and actor and freestyle footballer Jeremy Lynch.
Other players still checking their busy schedules include: TV personality Dan Osborne, soap stars Dean Gaffney, Ricky Groves and Matt Lapinskas, Georges Berthonneau and Arthur Poremba from Married at First Sight, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Flintz, Chet Sket from Ex on the Beach, Munveer and Billy Brown from this year’s Love Island, and comedian Man Like Haks.
The Ollie Young Foundation would like to thank their event sponsor for the day, building materials group Jewson.
To enjoy the game, and to spot celebrities on the pitch, people can buy tickets for the event which will take place at Hartley and Wintney Football Ground, RG27 8DL on Sunday, October 6.
Doors open at 1.30pm, with kick off at 3pm.
Tickets cost £13.70
For tickets, visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/100818161735
For information, log onto: www.ollieyoungfoundation.org, www.sellebritysoccer.org.uk and www.jewson.co.uk