Celebrity football match a success
Neil Splaine 42, from Worsley, who died in a tragic motorcycle accident in January, was honoured with a celebrity football Match in aid of Henshaws Society for Blind people, on Sunday 14th August at AFC Monton in Worsley.
His family and friends wanted to raise money to support a charity after his death and as Neil lost a
sister a few years ago to diabetes and his other sister, Valerie, is going blind through the same disease, it was his family’s wish that the money would go towards helping blind people. They also decided to donate his corneas to medicine, and four people have already benefited from this thoughtful decision.
His family and friends have been raising money for Henshaws since January, and the football match which was played between AFC Monton and the Celebrity ALLSTARS – a team made up of Celebs from Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks as well as ex Professional Footballers – was their latest effort to support Henshaws vital services for blind people in the North of England.
The day was a great success despite Monton FC losing 10-1 to the ALLSTARS and Neil’s family and friends managed to raise a massive £1015 for Henshaws.
Neil’s sister Valerie, who helped out on the day said,
'I've really enjoyed helping out today, I suffer from impaired sight and it means a lot to me that we managed to raise so much for Henshaws, I think Neil would be proud'
Three-year-old blind Oscar O’Sullivan Hughes, an avid football fan and the face of Henshaws latest fundraising campaign, kicked off the match and he and his family met some of their favourite celebrities on the day.
Kait Hughes, Oscars mum said “We were really proud to be involved in this fantastic event to help honour the memory of Neil, as well as raising money for a cause so close to our hearts”
Faye Wilson, from Henshaws who helped out on the day said;
'The day was a huge success, Monton AFC and the ALLSTARS teams played a fantastic match, and we were delighted that Neil's friends and family raised so much money for Henshaws'
