A prostate cancer survivor is organising an extravagant celebrity charity football match, pitching the likes of The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh and former pro Thierry Henry against the Leyton Orient legends.
Car mechanic Errol McKellar has been given the run of Leyton Orient Football Club on May 31 and the massive day – which could raise up to £100,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, for which he is an ambassador – has been a year in the making.
Since Mr McKellar began offering a 20 per cent discount on MOTs at his garage in Cremer Street, Hoxton, two years ago for customers who get prostate check ups, 30 of them have been diagnosed with prostate problems.
But he wanted to do more to raise awareness of prostate cancer, and his wife Sharon came up with the idea for the match, to combine his Leyton Orient links – where he coaches the youth team – with the celebrities he knows who frequent his garage.
Mr McKellar, 57, said: “I found it hard when the doctor said your prostate is covered in cancer, if we don’t remove it you could be dead in six months.
“There’s nothing that prepares you for that word cancer, I went out of the room in tears, it reduced me to very little.
“But my wife spurred me on to get up and do something, I’ve been trying to get people to treat it like an MOT – once a year you need to treat it like an MOT and get tested.”
Premier league manager Harry Redknapp will manage the celebrity team which includes Shaun Wallace the ‘Dark Destroyer’ from ITV quiz show The Chase, as well as its presenter Bradley Walsh, and former Arsenal player Thierry Henry.
Hackney residents, striker Ade Akinbiyi and comedian Russell Brand will also be on the team playing against the Leyton Orient team from 2005-2006.
Mr McKellar said: “At the moment we have some high profile celebrities, I can’t reveal some of the names.”
He continued: “The stadium holds 10,000 people, we are hoping to fill the stadium. I have no idea how much money we might raise, but raising awareness is the greater part of this issue. This is an issue that affects all men and it also affects their families, that’s why we decided to do a family fun day.”
Tickets go on sale at the beginning of April, for details of hospitality and sponsorship packages call Tom Jeffes or Rob Noble on 0871 310 1881 or email commercial@leytonorient.net.
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