A football game has been held in memory of a mum from Consett who died of cancer, raising £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Kimberley Laddie, whose children are Kiera, 12, and Jack, 6, was given the devastating news she had only months to live after being diagnosed with lung and liver cancer in early 2021, but the primary source of the cancer was never identified complicating treatment.
Despite months of difficult treatment tragically Kimberley died in July last year.
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A charity football match was held in her honour between Consett Ladies AFC and Ponteland United Women FC at the Belle View Stadium on Sunday, July 16.
Kimberley’s niece Katie Monaghan, 18, who plays for Ponteland United Women FC, her mum Sianne Monaghan and cousin Stacey Bell thought it would be a wonderful gesture to set up a football match and raise money for Macmillan.
Sianne said: “We are so grateful for the amount raised and the turnout of support from the local community for the match, particularly in trying weather conditions.
“I think there were over 200 people in the crowd and that was despite charging £3 a ticket for Macmillan, most of which were presold.
“Kimberley would’ve been delighted, especially with her niece Katie playing and the fact we were raising money for a charity she spoke so highly of.
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“Dad and I spent a lot of time with Kimberley, particularly toward the end when her mobility became an issue and Macmillan provided amazing support which helped her to stay at home for longer with her children.
“They were always there to support, it seemed that their aim was to take as much pressure away from Kimberley and the family as possible and we will always be grateful for that.
“A huge thank you to both team coaches Colin Brooks from Ponteland United Women and Reece O’Donnell from Consett Ladies for allowing the teams to play and make this happen.”
Stacey Bell said: “Macmillan were a massive support for Kimberley throughout her illness and provided huge amounts of help and support.
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“We are delighted we raised such a lot of money for this fantastic cause and a charity which was close to Kimberley and one we will continue to support.”
Erin Fairley a relationship fundraising manager for Macmillan said: “What has happened to Kimberley is a tragedy and our heart goes out to her family and friends.
“We are so grateful to Sianne, Katie, Stacey, and everyone involved in making this football match happen, raising vital funds for our services which are needed now more than ever.”
Anyone wanting to make a donation toward the total can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/charityfootballmatch
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