Post by SheWolf on Oct 18, 2007 21:51:36 GMT 1
From IC Coventry.
Soap stars in charity kickoff
Oct 18 2007
By SiâN Powell
SOAP stars are taking part in a charity football match in north Warwickshire, organised by the father of a schoolboy with a rare genetic condition.
Cast members of Emmerdale will play an old boys' team from Birmingham City FC at Atherstone Town's Sheepy Road stadium this Sunday.
The match will raise funds for DebRA, which helps sufferers of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare condition which makes the skin blister at the slightest touch.
Matthew Garratt, aged 10, suffers from the painful condition, which has no cure.
He will be the mascot at the game, organised by his dad, Mark, and featuring stars such as Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden in Emmerdale.
Matthew, of Baddesley Ensor, near Nuneaton, was born with no skin on his hands, feet, bottom or shoulders where it had rubbed away in the womb.
Mum Julie, aged 46, said: "Matthew's skin is so fragile, it just comes away.
"He's got the least severe kind and while Matthew's prognosis is good, a lot of children die before they reach their 20s."
She added: "He's a happy chappy; he does not let anything get him down. He has to have his blisters burst every morning and night. It's very painful."
But despite his condition, Matthew, a pupil at Woodside CE Primary School in Grendon, is looking forward to his role in the match.
He said: "I'm really excited, I've been a mascot before for Aston Villa. That was good."
The Manchester United fan will be wearing the Old Trafford team's kit as he leads Birmingham City Old Boys on to the pitch.
He said: "I'm looking forward to it and I'm looking forward to meeting the Emmerdale players."
Kickoff is at 11.30am - tickets £5, or £3 concessionary, on the gate.