Man who lost friend to cancer raises £17k for East Lancs Hospice

Ben Wiseman started organising football matches after his friend Warren Wolstencroft died, aged 39, from a rare form of cancer in 2013.

The pair shared a love for Blackburn Rovers and went to matches together as season ticket holders.

Ben, 39, wanted to do something they both loved, but also something that would give back to the hospice and so he began to organise charity football matches.

Bed said: “In Warren’s final weeks the hospice staff were there to support him and I’m delighted to do all I can to enable others receive the same level of care and compassion he did.”

Warren, who served in the Army, was diagnosed with Epithelioid Sarcoma, leading to him needing part of his arm amputating but the cancer returned and he was given the devastating news that it was terminal.

Since beginning his organisation of the charity football matches, Ben has raised over £17,000.00 for East Lancashire Hospice, which will help towards caring for patients with life limiting illnesses in the communities of Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

Ben, from Lytham, continued: “That is the testament to the man he was and the legacy he wanted us to continue in his absence. Through players, spectators and sponsors the support is unbelievable and beyond all expectations.”

The teams have been lucky enough to play at the home grounds of Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Macclesfield Town and Fleetwood Town.

This year’s football match was held at the Leasing.com Stadium, home of Macclesfield Town and the match raised over £1,500.00 for East Lancashire Hospice.

Leanne Green, Fundraising and Lottery Lead at East Lancashire Hospice said, “Ben is such a passionate person about the hospice and the work he puts in to make sure money is still raised in Warren’s memory is unbelievable.

“He’s an amazing ambassador for us and we cannot thank him and all involved in the football matches enough for their hard work."