Flintshire football community rallies around Rupert with festival at Deeside Leisure Centre
A charity football festival bringing together 24 teams and around 240 children will take place at Deeside Leisure Centre this Saturday, 21 March, in support of a young Flintshire boy recently diagnosed with a rare neurological condition.
Rupert is seven months old.
According to his family’s fundraising page, he stopped breathing earlier this year and required resuscitation, a medical emergency that led to genetic testing and a diagnosis of Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, known as AHC.
AHC is described by specialists as ultra-rare, affecting around one in every one million children.
The condition causes unpredictable episodes of paralysis, seizures, breathing difficulties and developmental delay, and there is currently no cure available through the NHS.
Rupert is being cared for by specialist teams at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
His family is fundraising to prepare for potential treatments and clinical trials in the United States, which are not funded by public health services.
You can read Rupert’s story and donate directly at his GoFundMe page.
The event has been organised by Gwella Football Coaching and volunteer Holly Regan to raise funds for Rupert, whose story prompted an outpouring of support from clubs, families and businesses across the region.
More than £7,000 has already been raised ahead of Saturday’s festival, with the organisers hoping to reach a target of £8,000 on the day.
All proceeds will go directly to Rupert’s family through the official fundraising page.
Teams have travelled from across Flintshire for the festival, along with visiting sides from Conwy, Llanrug and Chester.
The event will include a special rainbow-themed group photo featuring all 24 teams, along with professional photography and drone footage.
Fourteen local businesses have each sponsored an individual team: VIX Technology, Six One Six Restaurant and Bar, Yopa Estate Agents, Deeside Home Care, Bespoke Build Ltd, Abbeygate College, Oliver & Co Solicitors, Scout Mortgage & Insurance, MTech Software Solutions, Shotton Cards Party Shop, MacKenzie Jones Solicitors, Oak Warehouse, Legal & General Capital, and Mist Free Windows.
The organisers say the sponsorship structure means all money raised will go directly to Rupert’s family.
A small number of team sponsorship places remain for businesses wishing to get involved before Saturday.
Gary Dixon, head coach at Gwella Football Coaching, said: “Football has a great way of bringing communities together.”
“When we heard Rupert’s story, the Gwella coaching team wanted to do whatever we could to help support his family.”
“The response from local teams and businesses has been fantastic, and we’re looking forward to a great day of football while raising funds for an important local cause.”
“We were first contacted by a football parent, Holly Regan, who reached out to see if we could potentially run an event to help raise money for Rupert.”
“Since then, Holly has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, contacting companies and local businesses for sponsorship and support.”
“It’s been incredible to see the response from the community, with so many companies stepping forward to make donations.”
Businesses wishing to take a remaining sponsorship place can contact Gary Dixon on 01352 704200 or [email protected].
Gwella Football Coaching runs inclusive football sessions for children aged three to eleven at Deeside Leisure Centre and Flint High School, and has delivered community football programmes since 2017.
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