CELEBRITIES and footie stars head to Essex for charity match

12 Aug CELEBRITIES and footie stars head to Essex for charity match

United For Charity and Team Avery will be raising cash for the Anna Kennedy Online charity with the game on Sunday, August 25, at Bowers and Pitsea Football Club.

The event will also raise cash for Sky Butcher, who supports homeless people in Basildon.

It is being organised by Basildon’s Chris Cooper, 33, founder of United For Charity, alongside Team Avery, which was launched by the family of an autistic man Aston Avery who is also an Ambassador for UK Autism Charity AnnaKennedyonline.

The impressive list of stars for the game includes footballer Mark Hayes, Jamie O’Hara, Basildon’s X Factor finalist Che Chesterman and many reality TV stars.

Mr Cooper said the event is all about the awareness raising of Autism.

He said: “We still don’t know enough about the condition.

“I think people are still quite afraid of it.

“I know people call those with autism weird and odd and I don’t like that at all.

“I chose the charities as I’ve met Anna Kennedy OBE an Autism Ambassador and founder of services for children and adults affected by autism and I know of her great work and the charities work around autism.”

He added: “My daughter said about supporting a homeless charity and we were put in touch with Sky Butcher.

“She does great work in the town centre and washes clothes for homeless people and gives other support.”

The fundraiser has been organising the event for a few years.

He said the usual audience is about 600 people but he wants to get 1,000 in seats cheering on the celebs.

Other big names include The Only Way Is Essex star Jamie Reed and Ex on the beach star Chet Johnson.

Mr Cooper added: “I prefer to raise cash for independent charities as I believe they can make more of a difference.

“We will also have an autism virtual reality sensory bus on the day. Plus many stalls and fun activities”

Tickets for the event, at the Len Salmon Stadium, in Pitsea, are priced from £4 each.

For more and tickets see www.facebook.com/unitedforcharity/