Warriors will stage a charity rugby match on Wednesday October 9 between West Mercia Police and neighbouring force Warwickshire Police to raise much-needed funds to help send young leukaemia sufferer Oscar Saxelby-Lee to Singapore for specialist treatment.
The five-year-old schoolboy from St John’s has T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and was briefly cancer-free earlier this year after he received a stem cell transplant. The transplant unfortunately failed, and Oscar now desperately needs CAR-T Cell Therapy which is not currently available on the NHS. The treatment is available in Singapore but will cost around £500,000.
Hearing of Oscar’s situation and that he wants to be a Police Officer when he grows up, West Mercia Police have shown their support by organising the charity rugby match at the home of Warriors to support the fund-raising for the youngster.
Warriors will host the match between West Mercia Police and opponents Warwickshire Police under the Sixways floodlights. Officers who play in the match will be taking part in their own time outside of their normal duties.
The match will kick off at 7.30pm but the ground will open earlier for additional entertainment and activities for the family to enjoy. A local band will be donating their services by playing before and after the match and West Mercia Police will also provide a bake sale during the event. More activities and on-the-night entertainment will be confirmed and released in the coming days.
Admission to the charity match costs a suggested donation of £5 for adults and £1 for children. All funds will go directly to helping Oscar’s cause.
“Warriors have taken a close interest in Oscar’s situation and a number of our players and staff went for stem cell matching earlier this year in an attempt to save his life,” said Warriors Operations Director Peter Kelly.
“We were saddened to learn that Oscar’s stem cell transplant did not work so, along with the rest of the local community, we want to help in any way that we can to get Oscar to the target which will enable him to travel to Singapore for specialist treatment.
“Our supporters generously raised more than £4,000 from a bucket collection last Saturday and when West Mercia Police approached us about hosting a charity rugby match we were only too happy to help.
“We hope that the people of Worcester and Worcestershire will turn out in force and help raise a sizeable sum of money for Oscar.
“I would also like to thank Warriors’ staff who will be working on a voluntary basis at the match to ensure that we can maximise the proceeds to ensure the fund-raising target for Oscar is reached.”
Superintendent Damian Petit from West Mercia Police said: “This will be a wonderful event, bringing together both forces and their families to enjoy the rugby and all the facilities so kindly laid on by Warriors. We all are doing what we can to help raise funds so Oscar can have a full and healthy life.”
Other on-the-night fundraising efforts include a bucket collection inside and outside the ground and a raffle and silent auction ran by West Mercia Police. A donation of drinks by Warriors Title Sponsor Greene King, will allow a proportion of drinks sales to go directly to Oscar’s charity fund too.
To show your support for Oscar, tickets for the event can be purchased online here. You can also make donations here.
If you’re able to offer your services or prizes to the event or would like more information on how to get involved, please email events@sixwaysstadium.co.uk who are working very closely with West Mercia Police.