Latest news with #charityMatch
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Football match to raise awareness of baby loss
This article contains details about baby loss and grief. For a range of organisations and charities offering advice and support, please access the BBC Action Line. A charity football match has been organised in a bid to raise awareness of baby loss. Lewis Robinson set up the match to raise money for organisations that supported him and his wife through the loss of their wife Shannon was 23 weeks pregnant when they found out their son Amor's heart had stopped before he was born at Nuneaton's George Eliot Hospital in February. "I wanted to do something to make him [Amor] proud but also to raise awareness and support other families," Mr Robinson, who works for Sky Blues in the Community (SBITC), said. Proceeds will go to baby loss charity SANDS and the SBITC MENtalk project which aims to support men's mental health. The couple, who had to go through childbirth and then arrange a funeral, were supported by the George Eliot bereavement team as well as Robinson said he found the focus of support was with the mum's journey and he wanted to encourage more men to talk about what they go through. With the help of Sands, the pair have organised a charity match between SBITC and Sands United, which will take place at President Kennedy School in Coventry on 7 June."It will be a great way to celebrate Amor's life while supporting other families," added Mr Robinson. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football match held in memory of murdered Stoke-on-Trent teenager
Family and friends of a woman who was murdered six years ago came together to celebrate her life as a charity football match was played in her annual event was held at Newcastle College in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on Wednesday in tribute to former academy footballer Megan Newton, who died in 2019 at the age of game featured current players from the college's Andy Griffin Football Academy, who took on Ms Newton's former teammates, while her family watched well as raising awareness of the impact of violence against women, the event also raised more than £1,500 for charity Our Space, which supports people with disabilities. Lauren, who was a close friend of Ms Newton's, took part in the match and told BBC Radio Stoke they were "like sisters".She spoke of how Ms Newton hated the rain but would be "buzzing" whenever the sun came out, earning her the nickname "summer time". Of the match, she said: "It just means so much to me, to her family, to everyone – it means the world to me specifically. I just love seeing everybody back here."It's like being back and connected to a memory I have of Meg but in the present day. She's gone but her memory isn't, she's still very much here and you can tell by all the people who have turned up." Sherry McCuw, who works at Newcastle College, coached Ms Newton and described her as a great football player."Meg was a lovely person off the pitch. On the pitch, she was like a bull in a china shop," she said. "To know Meg off the pitch and to watch her on it was an absolute pleasure."She added: "We want Meg to last in our memory."The team made up of current academy members included players aged between 16 and 19, while the opposing side made up of Ms Newton's former teammates were aged about 24 to 25. Current academy player Ruby, 17, said: "Some people don't get the chance to play for a cause like this so I'm glad we can."Former Stoke City FC captain Andy Griffin, who set up the academy, said it was "very important" to keep holding the event in Ms Newton's memory."She was a very bubbly character – very well-liked, very well-respected – and you don't have to ask many people twice to come along," he added. Ms Newton, who also coached a youth football team, was found dead in her flat in Stoke-on-Trent on 20 April 2019 after she was raped and murdered by Joseph was handed a life sentence, with a minimum prison term of 21 years, after pleading guilty in February 2020. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Pregnant Kelsey Parker cradles her bump and cosies up to boyfriend at charity event in memory of her late husband Tom
KELSEY Parker looked radiant as she cradled her growing baby bump during her annual charity football match in memory of her late husband, Tom Parker. Held at Bromley F.C. stadium in Kent today, the event marked the third Tom Parker Celebrity Football Match and once again raised funds for brain tumour research - a cause that has become deeply personal for Kelsey and her family. 4 4 Kelsey, boyfriend Will, and her children Aurelia and Bodhi all wore matching white t-shirts emblazoned with heart-shaped 'Love Tom' logos, honouring the beloved The Wanted singer, who passed away in 2022 from an inoperable brain tumour. In an emotional interview with The Standard, Kelsey said: "Me being with Will and having a child with Will would never take away the love that we have for Tom and the love that even Will has for Tom, because Will ultimately loves Tom's kids." She added: "It's about us as a family and Will's a massive part of their life now." Kelsey said the match has become a special day for her children to honour and "remember" their dad. Reflecting on Tom's diagnosis, Kelsey spoke passionately about the need for greater awareness and funding: She said: "When you get diagnosed like Tom did, it rocked our whole world and our family to know how underfunded brain tumours are. "Just raising that awareness will go such a long way." This year's star-studded match featured appearances from celebrity players including Ryan and Scott Thomas, former Towie star Dan Osborne, Love Island alumni Finley Tapp and Ronnie Vint, as well as Coronation Street's Alex Bain and EastEnders actor Jaden Ladega. The family-friendly event also included food stalls, raffles, and live performances. Kelsey continues to be a tireless advocate for brain tumour awareness, saying: "Even talking about it now, people have no clue that brain tumours are the biggest killer for under 40s and children, and we only get one per cent of national funding. That's it." She added: "Tom left me this legacy to carry on. He did so much in his 18 months of getting sick that now it's my time to say, you know what? I'll continue shining a light on it for him. "It's a big responsibility but I'm doing it all for him. "Because what we went through as a family - you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy. So now it's all about just helping other people." 4
