Sunday People

Stars and survivors score hit in charity match HERE WE GO... FOR GRENFELL

- By Nicola Small

THE stars turned out for the Game 4 Grenfell, but the biggest roar from the crowd came for four survivors. Watched by celebs who included Cheryl, making her first public appearance since she became a mum, Oluwaseun Talabi, Paul Menacer, Bobby Ross and Shahin Sadafi came on as subs in the second half. Oluwaseun was about to flee his 14th-floor flat by climbing down a rope made of bedsheets with his four-year-old daughter on his back when firefighte­rs reached him. The match at QPR’s Loftus Road ground was two miles from the blackened ruins of the Grenfell block where at least 80 people died. Former X Factor judge Cheryl, 34, who had son Bear in March, got a cheer as she presented football awards to local children ahead of the game. Her appearance was followed by the laying of wreaths and a minute’s silence to remember victims of the tragedy. Les Ferdinand, 50, who grew up in the area, and Alan Shearer, 47, captained sides which included actors Damian Lewis, 46, and Jamie Dornan, 35, singer Olly Murs, 33, comic Jack Whitehall, 29, and Man United manager Jose Mourinho, 54. Mo Farah, 34, scored first in a match that ended 2-2, but was then won on penalties by Team Ferdinand. Emeli Sandé, 30, Rita Ora, 26, and Marcus Mumford , 30, sang a moving rendition of Lean On Me at half time. Deborah Worku, 35, was at the game, which raised funds for survivors and community projects, with sons Jacob, seven, and Jeremiah, four, who lost his pal Zainab Choucair, three, in the fire. She said: “Our community is grieving, but events like today put a smile on everyone’s face.” Survivor Paul Menacer, 23, left the dressing room after taking part in the match wearing a T-shirt with the words RIP Mum & Dad. He said: “Events like this really help the healing process.”

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