Thorgumbald Tigers under-14s beat dads in football fundraiser for teenage cancer ward

MORE than £1,500 has been raised for a teenage cancer ward after a football match between dads and an under-14s team.

The fundraiser was organised after football coach Dean Sharp heard games consoles had been stolen from young cancer patients.

SOCCER SCHOOL: Thorngumbald Tigers under-14s beat The Dads 9-5 in a charity football match. Pictures: Kate Woolhouse. Prints can be ordered from www.thisisphotosales.co.uk/hullandeastriding or by calling 08444 060 910
DIFFERENT CLASS: The under-14s celebrate a goal.
THE BIGGER THEY ARE: Organiser Dean Sharp is tackled by Tigers.

Mr Sharp, 25, a coach of the Thorngumbald under-14s team, was inspired to organise the match after the consoles were stolen from the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Castle Hill.

The game saw the youngsters test their skills against the dads on Saturday at Thorngumbald Tigers' home ground, in Plumtree Lane.

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Mr Sharp said: "The day was a huge success. Everyone was raring to go.

"The dads were leading 5-2 at half-time but the young lads came back to win the match 9-5."

Mr Sharp's cousin Kye Eastwood has benefited from the unit since he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December.

He told Mr Sharp about the thefts and originally organised the fundraiser to buy new consoles.

But the trust has already replaced them, so the match raised general funds for the charity.

Mr Sharp said: "We had about 30 people, including Kye, who stayed for the first half.

"We raised £569 on the day but we are expecting a £600 donation and many of the young players are still collecting sponsorship so we will have at least £1,500.

"I was so chuffed by how much we managed to raise.

"We will hand it over directly to the unit and they can do what they want with it, whether it's for research, to refurbish the unit or whatever else they need it for."

The young players were the ones who suggested the fundraiser for the new consoles.

Mr Sharp said: "We always have a game against the dads at the end of the season for a bit of fun but they wanted to do it for the trust.

"We wanted to raise the money for the consoles but we were happy to do it anyway."

All of Thorngumbald got involved in the event.

Mr Sharp said: "The whole village was behind this. Vicki and Charlie Buckle at the Royal Mail pub organised the refreshments and raffle while we had prizes donated by Asda, Morrisons and the Wharfedale store. The parish council has backed the event and placed posters up around the village shops and workplaces.

"The main thing was to help the young people being treated at the cancer ward at Castle Hill get and raise funds towards new machinery and research."

The trust confirmed the consoles had been taken but said they were quickly replaced.

However, regional fundraiser Abby Batchelor praised Mr Sharp for organising the event.

She said: "We are extremely grateful for this wonderful support from Mr Sharp as we rely on donations to fund all of our vital work.

"The money raised will go towards the maintenance of the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Castle Hill, as well as funding specialist staff."

Anyone wishing to raise funds for the trust can call Abby Batchelor on 07432 727441.