On Saturday afternoon we are pleased to be hosting a charity match at the VBS Community Stadium in aid of Scarlett, an 11-year-old whose life changed in 2020.
In September 2020, Scarlett complained to her parents that her legs hurt. Her legs collapsed and she lost the use of them from the waist down.
It turned out she had a rare cavanoma that ruptured in her spinal chord which caused her to lose the use of her legs.
Since 2020 Scarlett has been so brave and working really hard on her strength but she is still in a wheelchair. Her family who are from Sutton have even upped and moved home so they are closer to a rehabilitation centre for her. As you can imagine all the rehabilitation and treatment costs a lot. As support we are staging a charity football game to raise money for Scarlett to continue her treatment and rehabilitation, and to purchase an easy-standing frame and a therapy dog. As she is from Sutton it made sense to have the event at Sutton United FC. She has presented to other hospitals about her condition because it is so rare and also been on BBC several times again spreading awareness but also promoting Horatio's garden and the rehabilitation centre (BBC One - Lifeline, Horatio's Garden, Alan Titchmarsh's Lifeline Appeal for Horatio's Garden). Check out her journey on Insta: @scarlettsjourney2020
The game on Saturday will be between a team comprising Scarlett's dad and some friends, and a celebrity team including Tubes from Soccer AM, Sky Sports Pundit and former Brentford and Carshalton player Sam Saunders, former Bristol City and Sunderland manager Lee Johnson, Jonathan Douglas, who captained Leeds United and Brentford, and GB athlete Harry Aikines, now known as Nitro from Gladiators, along with a number of soap and reality TV stars. Admission is £10, with under 12s admitted free, and tickets can be bought here. Gates open at 2pm and the game kicks off at 3pm, with half time entertainment and from 5pm music from DJs from Mi-Soul radio station. There will also be indoor and outdoor games, a cake stall, face painting and glitter and an auction of some amazing prizes. Unfortunately car parking will not be available, but the ground is adjacent to West Sutton station with a normal Thameslink service operating on Saturday.
Anyone who can't get to the game and who would like to donate can go to the Go Fund Me page that has been set up by former Sutton United captain Glen Southam here.
