A dad-of-two from Surrey has helped raise more than £2,000 after hosting a charity football match in memory of his late mother-in-law.
Lewis Still, one of the founding members of the Song for Sue Foundation, helped raise £2,050 for Brain Tumour Research by organising a charity football match at Dorking Wanderers’ Football Club on Sunday (June 26).
The Song for Sue foundation was created by the family of Sue Thomas, Lewis’s mother-in-law, after she died aged 57 in December 2015.
In early 2013, Sue began experiencing pains in the side of her face and was soon told she had a low-grade astrocytoma on the left insula.
At first, the MRI scan didn’t suspect it was fast growing, but results soon found it was apparently so deep in the brain that it was incurable.
Described as a person who “loved life and lived it to the full” on Braintumourresearch.org, Sue was said to be a wonderful wife and mother, an amazing career woman and a committed Christian.
Lewis, alongside his wife Holly, father-in-law Dave, sister-in-law Rachel and members of their local church have worked together to build the foundation since the summer of 2016.
Lewis told the Surrey Comet: “Whilst being away on our first family holiday without Sue, we decided that we wanted to remember Sue by throwing a party.
“Then the concept grew, and we’ve been running the Song for Sue Foundation for six years, raising money for Brain Tumour Research.
“The charity football match was our first event in three years, as the last few years of events were cancelled due to Covid.”
After paying for the pitch, food, and other costs, The Song for Sue football match raised approximately £2,050 for Brain Tumour Research.
The match itself was between The Song for Sue Foundation and Kick London - a Christian charity who work in schools across the UK - with a final score of 6 – 8 to Kick London.
“The entire day was fantastic” Lewis said, as the sun shined bright throughout the match and TV personality Calum Best joined the side lines to watch the game.
Lewis explained: “We had more than 150 spectators, over 60 players and a fantastic prize raffle with luxury prizes including Hotel Stays, Spa treatments, Escape rooms and much more.
“There was a ‘beat the goalie’ competition at half time with more than 30 children taking part with a Tyrannosaurus Rex in goal.
“Calum made an appearance and had many photos and conversations with people which was great.
“Dorking Wanderers were fantastic hosts and really accommodating.”
To make the event even more special, Lewis’s two children and Sue’s granddaughters, Sienna, 6, and Lara, 3, were mascots for the event.
Other members of the family, including Sue’s nephews Marc and Steve Harvey were co-captains for the Song for Sue Foundation team.
Lewis added: “My daughter Sienna took part in the charity matches we did in 2018/19, but she was so young she couldn’t remember it.
“She’s six now, so she understands a bit more about her nanny Sue and why we are raising money for her."
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