To honour Michael, Darren set himself the challenge of raising £100,000 for cancer charities to raise awareness and fund research. His first venture last year was arranging a star-studded charity football match at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium where £3,000 was raised for Macmillan Cancer.
Then this month Darren arranged another match, this time at Ossett Town AFC where celebrities including boxer Andy Townend, Emmerdale stars Adam Thomas, Anthony Quinlan & James Hooton and Danny Mac from Hollyoaks took on a ‘Michael Kew XI’ that included former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan and Manchester City’s Lee Crooks.
Ossett Town Chairman, James Rogers was honoured to be asked to host the game “Macmillan is a charity close to many people’s hearts and being able to play a part in a fund raising opportunity is something we’re keen to do. ‘
Darren raised an amazing £17,000 at the match (smashing his £5,000 target), which was split between Macmillan Cancer and the Bradley Lowery Charity. Bradley who has terminal neuroblastoma was named as the honorary mascot for the match.
Darren told us he was moved to tears as celebrity players, friends and supporters helped him reach the fundraising target. He said: “It went really well. “We raised all that money and had 2,000 people through the gates on the day. Ossett and I are already planning next year’s game, where I’ll do it again for Macmillan Cancer, but for local kids too who are suffering from this terrible disease.”
Next up for Darren is the Leeds 10k run, what an incredible man.
Sponsor Darren here
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darren-powell4
Follow Bradley Lowery’s story here
https://www.facebook.com/BradleyLowerysFightAgainstNeuroblastoma/
Read more about Macmillan Cancer here
