Oldhamers show they have deep pockets and kind hearts...

POIGNANT TRIBUTE: wellwishers have paid their respects with flowers near the scene of the blast

OLDHAMERS are rallying round to show their support for victims of the Shaw blast.

Hundreds of people have organised fundraising events for those affected by the explosion a week ago today.

The blast killed two-year-old Jamie Heaton and left scores of residents with damaged properties and lost possessions.

Hundreds of homeowners were evacuated and several houses in Buckley Street are unsafe and will have to be demolished.

But Oldhamers have proved their determination to look after their own.

Latics legends will play a team of soap stars at Boundary Park on July 29 (2pm).

Manager Paul Dickov and assistant manager Gerry Taggart have confirmed they will play.

The soap star team will consist of EastEnders actors Matt Lapinskas (Anthony Moon) and Tony Discipline (Tyler Moon), former Emmerdale actors James Sutton (Ryan Lamb) and Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle), Oldham’s Hollyoaks star Nico Mirallegro (Newt), Failsworth actor Daniel Jillings, Waterloo Road star Jack McMullen (Finn Sharkey) and former Latics loan keeper Marlon Beresford.

Coaches and players at Heyside FC are pledging to support the Heaton family and everyone affected by the blast in any way they can.

Jamie Heaton’s older brother Jack plays for the club’s under 9s team and three of his cousins, Jack, Alex and Lily, play for other teams associated with the club.

Mark Senior, club secretary and welfare Officer for Heyside Juniors FC, said: “Many managers offered donations from team credits and profits from the forthcoming Ladies Evening will be donated to the fund. The Manchester FA has also responded positively to our request.”

Oldham Boxing Club will hold a silent auction for Ricky Hatton gloves which were signed when the star attended the launch of the Victoria House Project in the town centre last year.

Club director Eric Noi said: “The effects of an incident like this go on long after the debris has been cleared away. The whole community felt the blast and it will take the efforts of the whole community to recover from it.”

A group of pupils from Blackshaw Lane Primary in Royton will tackle a sponsored run around Hollingworth Lake on Friday. Jamie Heaton’s older brother and sister Jack and Jodie are pupils at the school.

Raffle prizes from Oldham Athletic, Manchester United, Manchester City and Lancashire Cricket Club will be up for grabs at Heyside Cricket Club when they play Austerlands on Friday. Tony Heaton, cousin of Jamie’s dad Kenny Heaton, plays for Heyside.

Oldham Phoenix Scooter Club, based in Shaw, is holding a fundraising afternoon on July 15. There will be a mass ride-in from scooter clubs across the region to the Cricketers Arms in Milnrow Road from noon.

Peppa Pig will be the main attraction at the Cricketers Arms on July 14, from 1-6pm.

Kind-hearted Carla Cox decided to organise a sponsored walk with a difference when she heard about the blast.

The 29-year-old mother of three and her recruits will walk from Asda in Shaw to Oldham Sports Centre — with wellies filled with baked beans.

Carla hopes to make up to £2,000 before the walk on Sunday morning.

Staff at the Royal Oldham Hospital’s pathology lab raised £250 for the fund by baking and selling home-made cakes.

Customers and staff at Envy nightclub in Waterloo Street dug deep to raise £687 for the appeal.



How you can help
Are you planning something special to raise money for the distress fund?

Let us know the details in an email to news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk, giving us the event, its time and venue, and a contact name and phone number, Make “distress fund” the email’s subject.

We hope to cover as many events as possible, but if we can’t send a photographer, you can supply your own pictures (jpg format in as high a resolution as possible:) to pictures@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.


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