Footballing fundraisers support bereaved parents with charity match

Footballing fundraisers have officially handed over more than £46,000 to a children’s charity and are now hoping to raise even more money and awareness of child bereavement and children who are seriously ill.

The third Goals 4 GOSH charity football match was held at Selhurst Park in May, raising £46,731.56 for the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Charity.

The Goals 4 GOSH initiative is the brainchild of Jamie Groves and his friend and co-organiser Charlotte Styles. Now in its third year, the project has successfully amassed a total of £110,152.64 for the hospital, showcasing the transformative power of community-driven efforts for charitable causes. 

Jamie, who is the Regional Development Manager for London South and South East Region at Funeral Partners, was joined by Soccer AM’s resident goalkeeper George Kamurasi aka Big G, former England Lioness and Chelsea FC Ladies player Katie Chapman, and former professional footballer Paul Hayes, to present the money raised to the team at GOSH Charity.

And now, Jamie and Charlotte are spearheading a Goals 4 GOSH team to take on Sands United FC London, a team of men who have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, to raise funds for Sands, the charity behind Sands United that works to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families, as well as GOSH Charity – with the funds split 50/50.

The match takes place on October 15 at Aveley FC’s Parkside Stadium, to coincide with the Global Wave of Light where everyone is invited, wherever they are in the world, to light a candle at 7pm local time as a special mark of support and remembrance. The memorial event is the culmination of Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) within Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Jamie said: “Sands United and Goals 4 GOSH coming together for this vital cause is truly inspiring.

“Both Sands and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital do work of incomparable importance. This event offers a unique platform to bring communities together and raise both awareness and critical funding for these incredible organisations.”

The Sands United team will be managed by football legend Paul Konchesky, while actor Tamer Hassan will guide Goals 4 GOSH. Special appearances are expected from a number of celebrities including former professional midfielder Sandro Ramiere, who played for Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, former Love Island contestant Tyler Cruickshank and model and social media star Ethan Aveiro.

Tickets can be purchased via the Goals 4 GOSH social media pages: look for Goals for G.O.S.H on Facebook, @goals4gosh on Instagram, goals4gosh on TikTok and @GoalsGosh on X. Adult tickets are priced at £10, and tickets for under-16s are £5.