Fundraising football match for Sam’s Dreams

Supporters of Pulborough teenager Sam Hedger have organised a charity football match to help him fulfil his dreams.
Sam Hedger winner of Courage Award at  County Times Youth Awards with Peter Woodman headteacher of the Weald School, Billingshurst (photo submitted/by Josh Smith). SUS-150220-112842001Sam Hedger winner of Courage Award at  County Times Youth Awards with Peter Woodman headteacher of the Weald School, Billingshurst (photo submitted/by Josh Smith). SUS-150220-112842001
Sam Hedger winner of Courage Award at County Times Youth Awards with Peter Woodman headteacher of the Weald School, Billingshurst (photo submitted/by Josh Smith). SUS-150220-112842001

Last year, Sam won a County Times Youth Award for his courage while facing cancer treatment, which included a year of chemotherapy, and the amputation of his left leg and part of his pelvis.

Sam, who is now 18, recently discovered that his cancer had returned.

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Although a programme of radiotheraphy and more chemotherapy will contain it for a time, he is expected to survive for another year at most.

Sam has compiled a list of goals and ambitions he would like to achieve in that time, and his family have set up a Facebook page called Sam’s Dreams, to co-ordinate efforts to help him.

On Sunday, a football match will be held to raise funds for him. Organisers will also auction off a Manchester United football, signed by the 2014/15 first team, and will raffle a signed Brighton and Hove Albion ball at half time.

In a separate raffle, a whole range of prizes - from a guitar to a £20 tattoo voucher - will be up for grabs.

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Staff at Tesco Dotcom in West Durrington have arranged to play the match against staff from Tesco in Pulborough - Sam’s former workplace.

Ashley Sharpe, from the West Durrington branch, who is involved in organising the event, and is promoting it on Facebook, said she didn’t know Sam when she first heard about his story, but had wanted to help.

“My manager found out because her other half is store manager at Pulborough Tesco,” she said.

“One of my colleagues, Debbie Randall, came up with the idea of a football match.”

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She said they had been overwhelmed by the level of support for Sam and by how well social media had spread the word - Sam’s Dreams has more than 1,300 Facebook likes after just a few weeks.

He has already fulfilled one wish, with a trip to White Hart Lane on May 3 to see Manchester City play Tottenham Hotspur.

Sunday’s match kicks off at 2pm, gates open at 1.30pm, at East Preston Football Club, Lashmar Road, Littlehampton, BN16 1ES.

Tickets are £2.50, or £1.50 for under 16s.

For more information on the match, visit: www.facebook.com/events/1613659372205031

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