Macmillan Cancer Support Announces Charity Football Match

LONDON, February 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Macmillan Cancer Support has announced that a host of popular Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars are heading for the football pitch on Saturday 19th February for an all-star match which aims to raise over GBP20,000 for the UK's leading cancer care charity. Kicking off at 1pm at Manchester Regional Arena, the match will see the stars competefor The Gavin Blyth Memorial Cup in memory of their colleague, TV producer Gavin Blyth who died of cancer in November, aged 41.

Gavin spent eight years working on the two soaps, starting at Emmerdale in 2002 as the shows senior publicist before movingto Coronation Street in 2005 where he was Assistant Producer. Gavin returned to Emmerdale in 2009 as series producer, creating exciting new characters and storylines that resulted in a massive upsurge in viewers.

The Emmerdale team captain and event organiser Danny Miller, who plays troubled teen Aaron Livesy, said: "Gavin Blyth was an inspirational and passionate producer. But not only that, he was a fantastic man, father, mentor, and friend who was like a brother to me and so many others. He's left a giant hole at Emmerdale so we want to remember Gavin by having a match against the lads from Coronation Street which should be a great day celebrating his life, and raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The ground can hold 3,000 people and we want every seat filled to cheer us on, and to help a fantastic charity that does so much to help people affected by cancer. Naturally, Emmerdale is going to win."

Jamie Strachan, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan in Leeds added: "Emmerdale have been fantastic Macmillan supporters for a number of years, but Danny has done a superb job organising this match in memory of Gavin. He meant so much to so many and it's a way for cast and crews of Emmerdale and Coronation Street to honour his memory whilst raising money for Macmillan to ensure we can help more people living with or affected by cancer (http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx)."

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day and are priced GBP8 for adults and GBP4 for children or a family ticket (two adults and two children) is available for GBP20 with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support. Turnstiles will open at 12 noon ahead of a 1pm kick off. Fans will have the opportunity to get autographs and photographs with their favourite cast members after the game.

About Macmillan Cancer Support:

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of people will get cancer. Two million people are living with it.

Macmillan Cancer Support offers support and cancer information (http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancerinformation.aspx) on all types of cancer including breast cancer ( http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Breast/Breastcancer.aspx) and prostate cancer (http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Prostate/Prostatecancer.aspx).

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    For further information, images or media accreditation, please contact:
    Sarah Summerfield
    Press Officer
    Macmillan Cancer Support
    89 Albert Embankment
    London
    SE1 7UQ
    +44(0)20-7840-7811

    http://www.macmillan.org.uk