Celebrity football match at Atherstone FC on Sunday 21st October 2007
On Sunday 21st October, a celebrity charity football match in aid of DebRA, the national charity working on behalf of families affected by the painful genetic skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), will take place at Atherstone Town Football Club.
Organised with friends by Atherstone businessman Mark Garratt, whose son Matthew (pictured left) was born with EB, the football match will see cast members from top television drama Emmerdale take on Birmingham City Old Boys at the 3,000 capacity football ground. A penalty shoot out competition will take place before the match kicks off at 11.30am.
Nine year-old Matthew Garratt was born with Dowling Meara EB, which means that his skin blisters at the slightest friction. Because of his condition he gets badly blistered feet. Despite his painful condition, Matthew is looking forward to his role as DebRA mascot on the day and collecting sponsorship money, which will all go to DebRA.
DebRA funds specialist EB nurses, provides a welfare team to support families living with EB and also funds vital research programmes with the aim of putting an end to the pain of EB.
Team players for Emmerdale, pending filming commitments, will include Ben Freeman (alias Scott Windsor), Jim Hooton (alias Sam Dingle), Kelvin Fletcher (alias Andy Sugden), Clevland Campbell (alias Danny Daggert) and Glen Le Mont (alias Richie Carter). Team players for Birmingham City Old Boys will include Kevan Broadhurst, Ian Atkins, Paul Tate, Robert Hopkins, Dave Busst, Graham Hyde and Mark Yates.
Tony Eckersall, Regional Fundraising Manager at DebRA, said: “DebRA is very grateful to Mark and the teams for organising this fantastic fundraising event. We’re all very excited about the match, which promises to be a great game, great entertainment and, most importantly, it should raise a fantastic amount of money for DebRA.”
Mark Garratt added: “I believe that without DebRA’s support, my son could not live his life to the full. DebRA relies on fundraising events like this to carry out its vital work, improving lives and giving hope to families like mine. So please come along and help support this worthwhile cause – and enjoy a great day of football to boot!”
Tickets for the match will be available on the door and are priced £5 for adults and £3 concessions.
For more information about DebRA, please visit
www.debra.org.uk.
