TWO friends are hoping to give cancer the boot with a charity football match in aid of St Rocco’s.

John Hibbitts and Leighton Wright were inspired to do something for the cause after they both lost their mums to cancer in the last two years.

The pair have gathered together their friends, who used to play in Sunday League together, to take on Grappenhall Veterans at the Orford Jubilee Hub on Sunday in memory of mums Mary Hibbitts, from Great Sankey, and Christine Wright, from Orford.

John added: “It completely changed my life after my mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour and made me appreciate what we have and think about other people rather than living at a million miles an hour.

“She was a nurse and dedicated her life to helping people even volunteering at St Joseph’s after she retired.

“My mum was amazing and said during her illness she was grateful because she had been given the chance to say goodbye to the people she loved.

“There was nobody stronger than my mum.”

John said it was tough seeing his friend of more than 20 years going through the same thing when his mum was diagnosed with cancer and added they were driven to do something to help prevent other families going through the same thing.

He added: “Knowing what we went through as a family, we would do anything to help others in the same position and we were inspired to organise the charity match after going to watch Soccer Aid.

“Leighton was keen to show how much he appreciated the work of St Rocco’s after his mum was there which is why we’re raising the money for them.

“We’re hoping if it’s successful it could be a launch pad for an annual event.”

The match kicks off at 11am.