Beatles night and Hollyoaks football match score for St Catherine’s

Soap idols and former professional football stars gave their time to support a duo of fundraising events in aid of St Catherine’s.

Event organiser Tony Cartwright, from Chorley, organised a Beatles night and a celebrity charity football match in support of the hospice.

Guests at the charity music night enjoyed a whole host of entertainment including a chocolate raffle and a performance from John Lennon tribute, Gary Gibson.

Tony said: “Ex-pro footballer and coach Colin Hendry, and TV chef Dean Edwards, both made a special appearance the charity night. The atmosphere was amazing, it was a really great night.”

The ‘Ex-legends vs Hollyoaks stars’ football match took place at Bamber Bridge Football Club. Supporters were treated to a variety of stunts and routines from Whittle-le-Woods based cheerleading squad Infinity Cheer before the match started.

The legend team line-up included ex-Blackburn Rovers and Scotland captain Colin Hendry, former Preston North End players Paul Mckenna and Brett Ormerod, former Blackburn Rovers player Craig Armstrong, Northern Ireland International star Stephen Jones and celebrity chef Dean Edwards. 

They went head-to-head against Hollyoaks actors including Tony Hutchinson played by Nick Pickard, Dirk Savage played by David Kennedy and Prince McQueen played by Malique Thompson-Dwyer.

The Hollyoaks stars went home the winners, beating the ex-pros 4-3.

The game was supported by volunteer sports events fundraiser John Gibson, and 12 children from the junior squash and racketball club at Leyland Leisure Centre. The youngsters volunteered at the game providing on-pitch ball support.

John said: “As somebody who supported St Catherine’s Hospice with sporting events for 10 years up until 2010 it’s a cause close to my heart as I know how much it supports people in the local community.”

Tony added: “We’ve been organising charity football matches to support the hospice movement after my sister Tracy stayed in St Margret’s Hospice in Taunton in 2012. Since then we’ve been raising fund and awareness of hospices, especially our local hospice, St Catherine’s. The care and support provided is remarkable.

“We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the match, the sun was out and everyone had a great time.”

A special thanks goes to Brendan Ainscough and Places Gym Preston for sponsoring the event, stewards from Blackburn Rovers and Shaun Lapworth, Helen and Peter from Bamber Bridge Football Club who helped with every aspect of the charity football match and Radio Lancashire for the coverage.

St Catherine’s donor development officer, Emma Jacovelli, said: “We’d like to say ‘thank you’ to Tony and everyone involved in The Beatles night and charity football match for raising an incredible £1,072.

“It’s only thanks to the continued support of people like Tony in our community that we’re able to provide our specialist care to people in Central Lancashire who are facing conditions such as motor neurone disease, cancer, heart failure and MS, helping them experience a good quality of life, and when the time comes, comfort and dignity in dealth.”

Share with your friends!