Football fans ‘united’ during charity match
Blackhall youngster Bradley Lowery.
Six-year-old Bradley died on July 7, 2017, following a brave fight with neuroblastoma.
His family launched the Bradley Lowery Foundation to support poorly children who face a range of challenges in fundraising for treatment and equipment.
To date, it has developed a holiday home in Scarborough so families can make precious memories and launched a support line for the parents of children with cancer.
The match saw the Geordies win for a third time, with a score of 3-2.
The Geordies V Mackems football match has raised more than £26,000 for the foundation since it launched, through donations and the sponsorship raised by those taking part.
This year the match raised around £4,000, with players asked to raise what they can under the tough circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.
Organiser Gareth Horsley, community fundraiser for the Bradley Lowery Foundation, said: “We didn’t get the crowd we would normally have wanted under the circumstances but it was still amazing.
"We had 30 players in total and some had even travelled from Kent, Essex and Devon to take part.”
Gareth said the council had been contacted to ensure the match could go ahead and social distancing was in force among the crowd.
Hand sanitiser stations were also in place.
Gareth added: “We have a lot of support for the match and next year we are hoping to have celebrity footballers to take part.
"Thank you to everyone involved and especially to Matt Thompson who owns the Druid Park ground for letting us have the venue for free.”
To donate visit: https:// justgiving.com/fundraising/ gvm2020