More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A group of footy mums usually seen cheering on their sons and daughters from the sideline are taking to the pitch themselves to raise funds for a mental health crisis café.
The tournament is the brainchild of Football United, a group formed by friends and family of three men who took their own lives within three months of each other in Thanet last year.
Paul Connell, 33, died on March 26, 30-year-old Marc Wood on May 8, and Ben Stone, 34, on June 10, sparking calls for more to be done to help people struggling with their mental health.
Their tragic deaths personally affected many people connected to the kids' team Thanet United Warriors and Football United was created.
Members raised almost £10,000 in a charity match last year for mental health organisations in the area and they have been working tirelessly to try to open three crisis cafés in the district.
Natasha Woolford, one of the organisers, says the group has events planned throughout the year and is constantly thinking of new ideas to keep raising money and awareness.
"One particularity rainy and freezing cold Saturday on the sidelines of my son's third match of the day, cheering the team on, an idea hit me - what about they stand on the sidelines cheering us mums on?" said Mrs Woolford.
"So the mum's charity match idea was born.
"We put the idea out on our charity page and we’ve been inundated with requests to play.
"None of us have played before, we’re all beginners but it’s going to be such a fun day. There will be football, food stalls, face painting and we hope to raise as much money as we can and continue to raise awareness of this horrible illness."
Money raised at the event will go to various mental health charities and towards East Kent Mind Mental Health crisis café, which will provide support for those who need it, which she says is in desperate need of funding to get open.
"We have always held the belief that had our friends and family had services like this crisis café, perhaps the end result would have been different," she added.
She says members of Football United, united in their grief, want to raise money for better mental health facilities in Thanet in general.
"Just ordinary football parents with one common goal; help prevent anything like this from happening again," she added.
The Football United Mums charity tournament is at Newington Community Primary School fields on May 10 at 11am.
Entry will be £1.
To donate to the charity click here.
