Charity Harwich football game to take place with Colchester players
A CHARITY football game will kick off in Harwich to raise money for potentially life-saving health screenings in the area.
Harwich and Parkeston FC will host a charity football match at their Royal Oak ground, in Main Road, on August 24.
The money raised will go towards the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) who will then use the cash to for Harwich-based heart screenings.
Club chairman Tony Armstrong said: “I lost my son 19 years ago from an undetected heart condition.
“He was only 28 and he just collapsed, and CRY gave my family a lot of support.”
Over the years Tony’s family has raised about £40,000 for CRY.
He said: “We’ve had three screenings here at Harwich and Parkeston Football club and we’ve done two screenings at Harry’s school.”
Tony said he met Helen Petley after her son Tom died, aged 20, in 2022 from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SAD).
A screening was held at the Parkeston football club last year for the Petley family.
Tony added: “I know from the screenings that we’ve put on, and we’ve probably screened 700 people over the years, there have been detections.
“I know one man who would probably have died if he hadn’t been screened.”
Former Colchester United captain Karl Duguid will be playing for the Tendring All Stars.
Potential players for the rival Inter Legends team, who are led by Shaun Wallace, include Colchester United’s Henri Lansbury, Stephen Ireland, Paul Konchesky, and Fraizer Campbell.
Organiser Charlie Mann said: “The Inter Legends are the best charity football team in England at the minute – they’re unbeaten.
“They’ve even sent a message to us just recently, actually saying that they’re actually fearful of us, and if we actually do beat them, then they can pay for a rematch.”
Screenings – Harwich and Parkeston Football Club chairman Tony Armstrong said he wanted the focus to be on ensuring other families are saved heartbreak through screenings and awareness (Image: Newsquest)
