Men-Aces play their hearts out for Lola
THE Skem Men-Aces have completed their 24-hour football match challenge to help little Lola Ward.
The Men-Aces continuously kicked the ball to raise money for the seriously ill three-year-old.
The Skelmersdale community came out to support the players at Skelmersdale College sports hall, with the deputy mayor, Noel Delaney, and deputy mayoress, Ann Stubbert, turning up to cut the ribbon at the start.
Mim Eaton, coach of the Skem Men-Aces – a football club for adults with learning difficulties – said: “The whole event was very emotional. The lads were magnificent, where they got their energy from I don’t know. The ball did not stop once.
“There were a lot of blisters. We’re proud of every single one of them.”
The squad of 25 took part to raise money for Lola, from Skelmersdale, who was born with a rare condition called MowatWilson syndrome.
She was born without a spleen, has holes in her heart and heart valves, cysts on her kidneys and uplifted ear lobes.
She also suffers from Hurshprung’s disease, which means she has had to undergo surgery to have her colon removed.
The original plan was to raise enough money to get Lola and iPad, but after a local businessman donated one, the target became other sensory equipment for Lola and a specialised bed.
Carl Eaton, manager and founder of the Skem Men-Aces, said: “We do crazy things like this to show that despite adversity and the issues these lads have themselves, anything is possible.”
The team played on despite losing one of their members from a brain tumour earlier in the week. Lola also came down on the day and was “all smiles”.
Since 2009, the MenAces have taken part in various fundraising events including truck pulls, a triathlon and a 24-hour sponsored walk – and have raised more than £50,000.