Mini Football Festival Fundraiser (Under 11s)

We are proud to be hosting a 7-a-side Mini Football Festival for Under 11s, bringing local teams together for a day of football, community spirit, and fundraising in support of a truly important cause.

Taking part in the festival are:

The tournament will begin in a league format, giving each team plenty of game time, before moving into knockout stages to decide the winners.

Supporting Rupert’s Rainbow AHC

This festival is dedicated to supporting Rupert’s Rainbow AHC, a fundraising appeal for a very special little boy and his family.

Rupert is a happy, smiling little boy who brings joy to everyone around him, despite facing extraordinary challenges from such an early age.

From only a few weeks old, Rupert began experiencing seizure-like episodes, leading to multiple hospital admissions and ongoing care from specialist teams across Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. He has undergone extensive testing while also facing developmental challenges, including low muscle tone.

Recently, Rupert suffered a life-threatening emergency where he stopped breathing and required resuscitation. Following this, he was diagnosed with Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC) — an ultra-rare neurological condition affecting approximately 1 in 1 million children.

AHC is unpredictable and severe. It can cause episodes of paralysis, seizures, breathing difficulties, and developmental delays. These episodes can last for minutes, hours, or even days, often without warning, and carry a risk of serious medical complications.

There is currently no cure for AHC.

Why Fundraising Is So Important

Rupert will require lifelong specialist care, monitoring, and support. While the NHS has provided outstanding care, treatment options for AHC are currently limited to managing symptoms.

Hope lies in emerging research and treatments in the United States, including therapies that could be life-saving. However, these are not available on the NHS and come with significant costs, including:

Because AHC is so rare, research is severely underfunded. Fundraising helps ensure families like Rupert’s are ready to act immediately when opportunities for treatment arise, and supports vital research that could benefit children worldwide.

Playing in Memory of Freya Jones

This is not our first fundraising festival. Last summer, we came together to raise money for Freya Jones, a close friend of several of the Llay United players.

Freya was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour and, despite incredible strength and bravery, she passed away last year.

In her memory, this year’s festival will be played for the Freya Jones Memorial Trophy. This is a way for us to honour Freya, celebrate her life, and ensure she remains part of our football community.

Event Details

Entry is completely free, but donations to this appeal are very much appreciated.

How You Can Help

This event is about more than football. It’s about a community coming together to support Rupert and his family, and to help create hope for a brighter future.

Thank you for taking the time to read Rupert’s story and for any support you are able to give.