Fundraising football tournament for Stafford house fire victims
The Stafford Soccer Mums will hold a mini tournament to raise funds for the family of the siblings who died in a house fire.
The club will be staging a mini tournament with all match fees being donated to the fund - which was set up after four young children were killed in the blaze at their Highfields home on February 5.
As a tribute, each of the four mums’ teams competing will be named after one of the children who lost their life in the fire.
And they will be joined on Friday evening by their footballing daughters and sons with a raffle and cake sale also being organised to help funds.
The idea came from soccer mum, Christy Pritchard, a mother of three, who said: “Like everyone I was totally shocked when I heard the news.
"Four little children lost their lives in such awful circumstances and their baby brother must be facing an unimaginable future. I was desperate to be able to do something to help.
“When I saw that a ‘JustGiving’ page had been started I knew I could get the other mums involved and help raise more money. The support I have had already has been amazing.”
Fellow player, mum of one, Jo Tonks, was quick to lend a hand to make the event a success.
She said: “As soon as Christy suggested helping raise money everyone wanted to help. People are baking cakes, donating prizes, selling raffle tickets – and of course playing football.
"We will do what we can as one big ‘soccer mums’ family to help - and be a small part of a community that has pulled together in an incredible way.”
The mums are liaising with the main fundraising organiser to ensure all money raised will go into a trust.
On Friday at around 6pm to 7pm more than 30 women will take to the pitch at Stafford Town FC, off Fairway, to play a series of games against each over. Girls from Stafford Town Under 15s team, along with brothers and sisters, will also be playing – as well as acting as referees and team managers on the night.
