Fancy-dress cricket aims to be smash hit!
Reporter: Lewis Jones
Date published: 14 September 2011
A CRICKET tournament with a difference will act as a touching tribute to two mums from Royton.
Local lads will don hilarious fancy dress for the charity challenge at Royton Cricket Club on Saturday.
It’s all in memory of Royton mum-of-two Karen Green, who died in May last year after suffering breast cancer, and Jackie Procter, who died in July last year.
Karen’s best friend Therese Hurst, who has organised the day of fun, said: “Karen was always smiling and did quite a bit of fundraising herself.
“Even when she wasn’t well she did a fundraising walk around Hollingworth lake dressed head-to-toe in pink.
“There’s a lovely community around Royton and I’ve been so overwhelmed with the support we have received from local people and businesses.”
Jackie, the mother of Lancashire Cricket Club all-rounder Luke, was heavily involved with Oldham and Royton cricket clubs and was loved by all who got to know her.
Becoming a cricket fanatic herself, she became one of the first women to umpire in the area in the Oldham Alliance League.
Twelve teams have signed up so far to take part in the tournament, with proceeds being donated to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and local breast cancer charity Link4Pink.
Lancashire and England cricketer Saj Mahmood will be a star turn on the day and will be signing autographs.
There is something for the whole family with a bouncy castle, facepainting and balloon race sure to excite the youngsters.
More than 100 prizes have been donated for a raffle, and Barclays Bank has offered to match the money raised at the event, which organisers hope will become an annual fixture. The tournament starts at 11am.
