A CHARITY football match was held to raise funds in memory of a much-loved family member who died a week after a routine operation last year.
Chelmsley Colts FC hosted its end of season charity match against Portway 74 in honour of Natalie Parkes a former Lung Cancer Specialist Nurse at Heartlands and Solihull Hospitals at The Onward Club in Chelmsley Wood.
After a one-minute applause Natalie’s dad blew his whistle via videolink to kick off the game.
The teams battled it out in the sunshine and Portway 74 were handed the coveted Natalie Parkes Memorial Trophy following a triumphant 4-1 victory.
The 32-year-old nurse had a heart defect and died a week after a valve was replaced in her heart in 2017.
Her cousin Jason Gosling, secretary at Chelmsley Colts, helped organise the club’s third event which raised more than £1,600 for the British Heart Foundation.
He said: “Natalie’s death hit all the family hard, and we are coping daily, but miss her incredibly.
“And I felt it would be a honour to put a event on through our Chelmsley Colts in her memory.”
Her partner Craig Hume ran the Birmingham half marathon in her memory and raised thousands for the charity in October.
As well as the football match there was a barbecue, stalls and a raffle with prizes including a West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City shirt.
In previous years the club has helped raise much-needed funds for a girl who had leukaemia and the club’s former goalkeeper Graham Gulliver who is now in remission from cancer.
