SHIRE Flooring’s first five-a-side charity football tournament, which took place at Macclesfield Football Club over the summer, saw some ‘outstanding football and plenty of laughs along the way’, according to Jenny McRobie, business development manager.
After a tense finale against Ian Williams it was Key Property Solutions which walked away as champions’ league cup winners for which they received a £500 donation to donate to their chosen charity – Bright Red – taking the total raised so far to £2,550.
Previously known as Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant 2000, Bright Red has supported haematology treatment and research in the region since 1988. Owing to its combined investment of more than £6,000,000 into haematology; diagnosis, treatment and research in the region has gone from strength to strength.
The region is now the second largest bone marrow transplant centre in the UK, treating an increasing number of patients from outside the area. These patients choose to come to northern England for many reasons, including the high standard of care and number of specialists in the region.
Says the charity: ‘Our vision is to make the region the safest place in the UK, if not the world, to be treated for blood cancer. We aim to improve the lives and treatment of people with blood cancer across the north of England. Through care, research and education we are striving to beat illnesses such as leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative diseases.’
Meanwhile, back on the football field, one of Shire Flooring’s teams triumphed as Europa league cup winners after a competitive final ending in a penalty shootout with Flint Bishop.
‘Robert Stephenson’s great finishing throughout the tournament secured him our top goal-scorer award,’ said Jenny. ‘A consistent performance in all the games, along with some fantastic saves to help his team win the cup, led to our player of the tournament award being given to David Johansen.’
The football theme continued when guest speaker Marlon Harewood gave ‘a wonderful insight into his former footballing career’ with a Q&A session afterwards.
Jenny concluded: ‘We’d like to say a massive thank you to three of our suppliers – Bostik, IVC Group and TradeChoice Carpet & Flooring – which supported this event. Thanks to all the teams which entered and the people who came along to support them. We all had a brilliant day and the standard has been set for next year, which we hope will be bigger and better!’
IMAGE: A selection of images from the charity football event
