A special rugby match is set to take place to celebrate a seven-year-old girl who has beaten cancer.
Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC are hosting the match to celebrate Cleo Grieg, of Cleator, who was recently declared cancer free.
Cleo has spent the past six months fighting Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma – a rare cancer that only affects five children a year.
She has battled through 74 nights in hospital, 35 days of chemotherapy, seven surgical procedures, nine scans and 10 blood/platelet transfusions.
Now Cleo is in remission, the community has stepped forward to help her and her family celebrate.
The idea to host the charity match came from captain Fran King and Dean Rooney, who wanted to celebrate Cleo and raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust.
The Trust gives families with a sick child a place to stay and someone to talk to free of charge just minutes from the child’s bedside.
The Hornets will go up against Leigh Miners in the charity match which will take place this Saturday, March 29, with kick-off starting at 12.30pm.
They will also be wearing kit specially designed by Cleo herself that will later be auctioned off and supporters will be wearing charity tops too.
Fran said: “We had the idea to do something for Cleo when we were designing our own kits for this year.
“At the time we’d seen a lot about the fundraising that was happening for Cleo and her family and what they were going through, so we asked her family if they’d be happy for us to do something.
“Dean reached out to her mum Ashleigh and she said yes and from there we thought about how we could maximise our fundraising. We started with kit, which was a big one for us and we thought well wouldn’t it be great for Cleo to design it for us.
“We tried to make it as much of a blank canvas as we could for her and we kept some Wath Brow colours in there, but we asked her to design anything she wanted.
“When we were looking at the calendar for when was best to do the game, we spoke with Ashleigh and were hopeful it was good news coming around this time for Cleo.
“So while she was coming to the end of her treatment in February/March time we wanted to do it as soon as we could to say thank you to the charity.”
The day of the match will revolve around celebrating Cleo and making the day as special as possible for her.
Amy Caddy, club secretary and treasurer, said: “We’re totally behind the lads and their decision to set up the match, a lot of our under sevens go to Cleo’s school St Patrick’s and the school are on board with it all as well.
“The boys will all be there on Saturday wearing their tops for her and we’ve invited the club’s youth up to make a V shape as Cleo and Fran walk out, so the day will be all about her.
“She’s got her own special table cloth at the table she wants to sit at in the club and we’ve ordered balloons for her too.”
The Hornets have also extended thanks to Siddal ARLFC who donated to their fundraising efforts last weekend.
Fran said: “Everyone in the Cleator Moor community comes together in adversity and I think that happens in rugby league as well. Anytime there’s been any fundraising, rivalries go aside and people come forward and support good causes.
“Saturday was an example of that, we were playing a game at Siddal and announced the our plans there to people in room and we had people come forward and donate.
“But I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected by cancer and I have personally, it doesn’t matter what age you are, it’s terrible in its own right.”
Everyone is welcome at the game on Saturday which will cost £5 with all profits going to The Sick Children’s Trust.
The Hornets will also have their A team go up against Flimby Vikings at noon and attendees will be able to see both matches for £5.
A raffle is also taking place to help boost fundraising efforts further. Tickets cost £5 and prizes range from an over £600 mattress to a one night stay in The Little Barn to afternoon tea, signed rugby shirts and more.
The team has also thanked its kit sponsors Future Private Hire, McDonald Fencing Services, Miss Vicky’s Childminding, Sian Price Creative Ink, Busy Scissors and Forth.
For more information on raffle tickets and how to donate visit the team’s Facebook here.
