Celebrities and Macclesfield FC owner to raise money for blood cancer charity
The man who started Macclesfield FC is to raise funds for a blood cancer charity.
Macclesfield FC owner Rob Smethurst will take part in a charity football match next month, and play alongside ex-professional footballers and soap stars.
Macclesfield's answer to Soccer Aid will take place at the Leasing.com Stadium this weekend, on Saturday July 2.
The game will see former professional footballers come play in Macclesfield for the star-studded charity match, in aid of blood cancer charity Myeloma UK.
Midfielder Michael Brown, who played for five Premier League clubs including Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will be taking part. He has over 194 Premier League appearances.
Former Celtic and Wigan Athletic player Gary Caldwell will play in defence.
Joe Sealey, son of late Manchester United goalkeeper Les Sealey will also play. Macclesfield FC's Rob Smethurst will be on the side of the ex-pros.
Stars of the Cheshire-made sitcom Hollyoaks will comprise the opposition.
The all-star fundraiser is the brainchild of Wilmslow football fan John Birtwistle (54) whose friend of 20 years, Simon Cowlard, was diagnosed with myeloma back in February.
Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer which claims the lives of 3,100 people across the country each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
It is expected to have 12 cases per 100,000 people by 2035.
"Simon is a great friend of mine – we used to work together and I've known him for over 20 years," said father-of-two John.
"When I found out he unfortunately had myeloma, I wanted to do something to take his mind off it, do something positive and help the cause.
"Obviously, it's affected everyone around Simon. It's been upsetting for me too."
"But Macclesfield FC have been brilliant. They've taken the match under their wing.
"It's going to be a great day for everyone and for Simon."
Hollyoaks actors that are taking part are; Ashley Taylor Dawson, Jamie Lomas, Nick Pickard, Matt Milburn, Rishi Nair, Matthew James-Bailey, Frank Kauer, Ijaz Rana, Charlie Behan, Omar Malik and Jonas Khan.
Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osborne on Hollyoaks, said: "John rang me three months ago and told me what was going on."
"We have a football team on Hollyoaks so we got the lads involved to do what they do best.
"With filming and people being up and down the country, you don't always know where you're going to be, so we weren't sure who was going to be able to do it, but the lads came through.
"Win or lose there will be a bit of competitiveness on the day. I'm looking forward to it. It's for a good cause. Cancer is devastating, the more awareness we can raise the better."
Tickets cost just £5 for adults, and £3 for Under 16s.
Macclesfield FC owner Robert Smethurst, who will join the ex-pros' team on the day, is looking forward to the event.
The charity fixture will take place just three days before Macclesfield FC's first pre-season home game against Crewe Alexandra.
"We're a community club, that's why we bought it, so we've offered the facility free of charge for a great cause that's close to their hearts," said Robert.
"Everyone is getting involved. I can't wait to play. It will be great fun.
"We've sold over 200 tickets already, so we'll have a bit of an audience. We'll do a bit of a push later this week to get to 300. Anything we can do to help."
Macclesfield FC Head of Marketing Danny Taylor will also take part.
Simon Cowlard had been experiencing back and chest pains for a few weeks when, one day, after a walk with his family, his legs started to go numb.
He was rushed to A&E.
There, a scan revealed a tumour was pressing down on his spine. He was eventually diagnosed with the incurable blood cancer myeloma. Simon was just 46 years old.
"John is a top guy," said Simon.
"When he found out, that first week in hospital, he offered to come down from Manchester to see if I was OK.
"The way this game has come about has just been incredible, especially with Macclesfield FC, the stars and the footballers coming on board. It's quite humbling.
"It's for a great cause. I hope we can help raise money for Myeloma UK and raise more awareness of myeloma."
Myeloma affects 24,000 people in the UK at any one time, according to Myeloma UK.
Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is especially difficult to diagnose as symptoms, chief among them pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and recurring infection, are often linked to general ageing or minor conditions.
1 in 4 patients wait more than ten months for a diagnosis. These are some of the longest delays out of any cancer in the UK.
"I had never heard of myeloma," added Simon.
"Even now it's still all relatively new to me and my family.
"Sometimes it feels like it's happening to somebody else and I'm on the outside looking in. It took a while to get my head around it and understand what myeloma is.
"Myeloma is a cancer they do not have a cure for at present, but there are treatments.
"Anything we can do to raise money will help people in my situation. It gets us closer to a cure.
"Science and medications are changing, and improving all the time.
"If it can give me the slimmest of chances of living longer, then that's my motivation.
"I am focused on coming out the other side stronger and with the myeloma totally under control."
Simon was given five to eight years to live at the point of his diagnosis. He has been doing chemotherapy for over ten weeks.
Kick-off is at 3pm at Macclesfield FC on July 2. You can buy tickets for the match here.
Or if you just wish to donate, you can find John's crowdfunder (which has currently raised £377) here.
On average, 16 people are diagnosed with myeloma every day in the UK.
Macclesfield: You can find a list of symptoms here.
See Also: Man to walk the Somme in memory of late Macclesfield cancer patient
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