Teams from Michelin and JCB will head to the pitch for a special charity event on Sunday, with members of the public encouraged to show their support and help raise money for a leukaemia charity.
It’s the third time Michelin Training Instructor Brian Bennett has organised the event and he has so far raised £20,000 for Leukaemia Care.
Brian was diagnosed with the blood cancer four years ago and recently received the news that he is in remission. During that time, he has been working to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
The match at Michelin Athletic Club, in Stoke-on-Trent, is expected to be tightly contested one as JCB won the first charity match on penalties and Michelin came back to win 6-1 last year.
As well as the competition on the pitch, the event will also feature an auction with a number of top prizes.
Among the items are signed, match-worn Viktor Johnsson boots and gloves, matchday programmes from every match in Stoke City’s 1972 cup winning run, a signed print of the cup winning team, a Porsche track experience at Silverstone for two people, and a meal for two at Sangam restaurant.
Fun for families will include a bouncy castle, ice cream van and catering van.
Brian told Daily Focus: “It’s great to be able to run the event again. We thought last year would be the last match but there has been real hunger for another. It should be another great day.
“I have had a tough time since diagnosis but I’m now on the latest treatment for my condition and it seems to be working.
“The support I have had from Michelin and my colleagues means the world to me and they have come out in force to support the fundraiser again.”
The fundraiser was the idea of Brian’s brother Ken Bennett who works at JCB Heavy Products in Uttoxeter.
Each previous event has helped to raise awareness of stem cell donation and dozens of people have registered to become potential donors as a result.
Brian’s son Jake has since been identified as a potential match for someone in need and is waiting the results of further tests.
The latest fundraiser kicks off at the Michelin Athletic Club on Rosetree Avenue, Trent Vale, at 10am on Sunday, 17 August.
Information about being a stem cell donor is available via the Anthony Nolan and DKMS: UK charities.
For more information about Leukaemia Care, or the condition, click here.
To donate to Brian’s fundraiser, visit his page here.
