Brave Charlie leads out the Reds
STANLEY fans and players stood shoulder to shoulder with brave three-year-old cancer sufferer Charlie Procter. Charlie, from Lion Street in Church, led the side out with Seamus Conneely at the WHAM! Stadium for their league game against Crawley Town on Monday.
The youngster, who was diagnosed with Hepato- blastoma, a rare form of cancer, in February last year, was guest of honour and later handed the man-of-the-match award to Stanley’s Matty Pearson.
Stanley’s chairman Andy Holt has pledged, along with the club’s sponsors, to donate up to £25,000 to Charlie’s treatment fund after starting an appeal on Twitter.
Former England cricket coach and Stanley fan David Lloyd also promoting Charlie’s battle.
Charlie’s parents, Amber Schofield and Ben Procter, 27, are attempting to raise £315,000 to send their son, who has undergone his 22nd round of chemotherapy, for treatment in America and have only raised £99,000.
Stanley manager John Coleman said it was ‘wonderful’ for the playoffchasing side to be led out by Charlie ahead of their 1-0 victory.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have young Charlie here today.
“It’s wonderful that he had the chance to lead the team out, it’s just a shame it has to be under such tragic circumstances.
“We thought it was important to do our bit to raise the awareness of Charlie’s condition.
“He’s a local lad and we like to help out in our own community as much as we can, and it looks like he was our lucky charm today.
“I would encourage people to visit his giving page and donate whatever they can to what is a very worthy cause.”
Charlie’s mum Amber, 23, who has campaigned tirelessly to send Charlie to Cincinnati for treatment unavailable in the UK, thanked the Reds for helping raise awareness of Charlie’s fight.
Amber added: “I would like to thank Murray Dawson at Accrington Stanley for giving us the opportunity to put my brave little boy front and centre before the game.
“Everything we can do to bring attention to Charlie’s illness helps and I would like to think that a few generous people may be inspired to donate to his cause after this. We are a way away from our target but it is true every little does help.”
To donate to Charlie’s treatment, visit Charlie’s Chapter on Facebook or Go Fund Me or visit Andy Holt’s Twitter page @ AndyhHolt