Soap stars are set to descend upon Harwich for a charity football match, it has been confirmed.
Actors who star in the Channel four soap, Hollyoaks, will be going head to head against players at Harwich and Parkeston football club.
Their footballing efforts aim to raise hundreds of pounds to be split between charities Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Great Ormond Street Hospital and to the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal.
The CRY charity has been chosen following the tragic death of Marcus Armstrong.
He died suddenly in May 2008 aged just 28 after the main artery into his heart split, something that rarely happens in people so young – it’s possible he was born with a heart defect that was never detected.
Marcus’ dad, Tony, now the manager of Harwich and Parkeston football club, said he was really looking forward to the charity match.
“We are really pleased it’s going ahead as we are going to raise the profile of the charities and give the public something enjoyable to watch.
“The team will be made up of first team players and veterans – we will have some players who played in the 70s and are still fit enough to take part.”
Speaking about the CRY charity, he said: “We are trying to raise money to set up a mobile scanning unit which CRY can send to Harwich.”
The unit would be for 14 to 35 year-olds complete with the staff to run it. It would cost £11,000 to run and scan 200 people.
“We want people to be prevented from going through what we went through and I am pleased there is so much local support for the charity,” he added.
Marcus’ brother, Adrian, completed the Flora London Marathon on Sunday which helped raise nearly £5,000 for the unit.
The 29-year-old completed the 26-mile run in 4 hours 14 minutes.
The football event is being organised by Laura Tuffen and Zoe Wood.
Zoe, 23, said: “Myself and Laura are really pleased to be raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and CRY because these charities are specifically aimed at treating the young, and as young people, we feel that we should all be doing more to raise funds and awareness for these worthwhile causes.”
It takes place on Saturday May 10 with a 3pm kick off. Gates open at 1.30pm.
Half time entertainment will be provided by a local dance school Boogie Shoes and there will be refreshments, bar bqs and ice creams on sale on the day.
Tickets go on sale this Monday.
They can be purchased from The Royal pub, Main Road, Dovercourt; A2B taxi office, Station Road, Dovercourt; Harwich and Parkeston social club; Fab N Fun, Phoenix Industrial Park, Freshfields Road, Parkeston.
Or you can email
