Epic charity soccer challenge needs you!

A BIG-HEARTED Southsider is organising a five-a-side
football tournament to raise funds for a charity that helps those who suffer
from an extremely painful and life threatening disease.

James Lumumba, from Tallaght, has organised the
12-hour long Football Marathon Challenge that will take place on Saturday, June
2 in the Dublin Postal Sports & Social Club, near Tallaght, for Debra
Ireland.

The charity offers support and advice to those who
suffer from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a genetic condition that causes the
skin layers and internal body linings to separate and blister at the slightest
touch. It affects about one in every 18,000 children.

He is hoping that men and women from across the
Southside will take part.

James decided to stage the fundraising event after he
carried out some research into Debra Ireland as part of a business management
course he studied last year.

“After doing that research I felt sympathetic to the charity
and felt I would like to do something for them,

? he said.

“Most of their funding is raised through events done
by individual people and they don’t get a lot of funds from the Government.

?

He said that each team for the soccer marathon will
comprise seven members with only five on the pitch at any one time.

He is hoping to get up to 20 teams involved in the
event and each player has been given a target of raising

?¬250.

Even those with a basic level of fitness should be
able to participate in the event, he added.

James is also trying to encourage women to take part
in the mini marathon on behalf of Debra Ireland and is also trying to get as
many people as possible involved in a charity sky diving event, which is
scheduled to take place in Co Offaly in April.

Susan Woodcock, fundraising manager at Debra Ireland,
said the charity was delighted to have been chosen as the recipient of the
proceeds from the football marathon.

“As a charity with no guaranteed funding we depend on
the generosity of our supporters to continue to support families around Ireland
who live with EB on a daily basis,

? she said.

To donate to the charity football event log onto
www.mycharity.ie/event/footballmarathon

To take part in any of the other events contact James
Lumumba by emailing: james.lumumba@aviva.ie or by phone on 087-4135537.