Family of ill boy organise football tournament (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Family of ill boy organise football tournament

10:21am Thursday 9th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

The mother of a seriously ill eight-year-old boy has organised a football tournament to raise money for a children’s hospice.

Shelly Turpin is raising money for Martin House, a children’s hospice near Wetherby. Her son, Joshua, who needs corrective heart surgery, is cared for there.

Joshua, who has an artery missing between his heart and lungs and a serious condition which suppresses his immune system, will undergo the major operation later this year.

Mother-of-four Mrs Turpin, of Bradford Road, Clayton, started a fundraising campaign for Martin House this year in recognition of the help it has provided her family.

She has now organised a five-a-side football tournament for Sunday, July 26, and has appealed for teams.

She said Joshua, a pupil at Heaton Royds Special School, Bradford, described Martin House as a “lifesaver” for her and Joshua, who spends time at the hospice.

She said: “It’s for both Joshua and his family. Joshua has lots of fun and enjoys himself.

“For me it means so much because when I go there I’m worn out from looking after Joshua and when I go there I can just relax.”

Mrs Turpin said she hoped the tournament would consist of 40 teams, with a male section and a female section.

Each team should have five players and three substitutes with each player aged 16 or over.

The event will be held at Marley Stadium, Keighley, followed by a free buffet and disco at the Fiddlers Three, in Pasture Lane, Clayton.

Teams pay £40 to enter the event, which has been organised with the help of Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police, the Foot-ball League Trust and Thackley Stadium.

For more information or to enter a team, contact Mrs Turpin on 077754 664701 or (01274) 889171.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)