Our Charity Events
Before the start of EMC Academy in 2015, Jonny, Henry and Claire knew each other through different roles in local primary schools and community schemes.
As a group of friends, they set their sites on raising money for Ruby Laura, a local girl fighting neuroblastoma; an aggressive childhood cancer.
Through the efforts of the local community, and a host of family and friends who volunteered, our first ever charity event was launched.
Our charity football match saw professional and Non league all stars come together to play at TAFC to raise funds for #HELPRUBYLAURASMASHCANCER.
The charity match was a huge success with other 500 in attendance, we raised a staggering £4.5k!!
As of today, we are thrilled to say Ruby Laura is cancer free ❤️
From the efforts of a few individuals, the charity ‘My Shining Star’ was born off the back of the campaign to help Ruby Laura fight neuroblastoma.
EMC are exceptionally proud to be official supporters of this wonderful charity. We continue to raise funds for them at any opportunity and raise awareness wherever we can. Through an anonymous donation in 2023, we were able to use My Shining Star as the logo for one of our tour kits to help raise awareness of the charity.
For further information on the charity or to make a donation please click this link to visit the My Shining Star website.
#HELPRUBYLAURASMASHCANCER #MYSHININGSTAR
#LOUISLOVESLIFE
May 2016, saw EMC (in only its second year of running) take on another charity challenge in aid of 4 year old Louis Bishop.
Louis was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Adaptions and building works to his family home were desperately needed to help Louis in his day to day living.
The match saw CFCA take on EMCA on 7th May 2016 at Crowborough Athletic F.C.
After the success of our charity match for Ruby Laura, Claire was keen to match the £4.5k raised.
Yet again, friends and family of EMC pulled together to pull off an extraordinary day resulting in raising a whopping £8.5k!!
It truly was a day that none of us will forget. Full of tears and laughter and highlighting the true spirit of #EMCFAMILY in every sense.
Louis is a remarkable young man, living life to the full. Our donation, along with other separate events held, helped support the family and Louis, and provide them with the funds needed to create the safe space and home Louis required.
If you were there on the day, or helped in anyway… THANK YOU ❤️
#DEFIBAPPEAL❤️
A dear friend and former coach of ours sadly passed away on the 23rd July 2019 after collapsing on the pitch playing the game he loved. Charlie was just 25 years old.
Following this heartbreaking news, along with the growing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest amongst footballers, we believed it was paramount that every coach at EMC had access to a defibrillator.
This was the driving force behind our journey to raise funds to ensure that there would always be a defibrillator present at every EMC game or event we hold. We approached Charlie’s family to ask if we could honour his memory and raise the funds needed to have our own defibrillators at every game, soccer school and event we hold.
From this... #THECHARLIESLOCOMBECUP❤️ was born.
Charlie’s family presented us with our very first defibrillator to start us on our fundraising journey.
12-HOURS-NON-STOP-GAME ⚽️
The first of our fundraising events took place place in June 2021. The day ran from 8am through to 8pm and the weather was far from our friend! With blistering winds and endless rain, the day still left all coaches, parents and players with smiles on their face as a whopping £1168 was raised!
This was the battle of all battles as #TEAMJONNY took on #TEAMHENRY in this 12 hour head to head!!
The day started with our youngest set of players aged 7-10 years, and slowly progressed though the ages with our u11, u12 and u13s taking the next 3 hour slot up.
A combined total of around 200 goals in the first 6 hours set a high target to beat for the 2nd half of the day.
Our u15 and U16s were up next and the fun didn’t stop there! As the weather worsened, it rained more goals!!
To finish the job, our scholars completed a fantastic day in the pouring hard rain, taking the total amounts of goals to over 500 in 12 hours!!
We can’t thank every player, coach, parent and anyone who donated enough! You all helped make this day as special as it was…
A massive thanks to both Cobra Projects and Runwood Homes who sponsored a team each for this event.
It was a roaring success which saw #TEAMHENRY triumph.
We’re sure this is now unfinished business between #TEAMJONNY and #TEAMHENRY and a re-match could be called. Watch this space…
#HOPEFORHERMIONE
We recently receieved the news that the 9 year old sister of one of our players, Declan, has been diagnosed with a rare brain disorder, BPAN.
Hermione, who was first diagnosed with epilepsy, autism and severe speech and language difficulties, continued to be unwell and further tests revealed she has Propeller Accumulation Neurodegeneration (BPAN).
To help raise awareness and funds to research into BPAN, Declan and family have launched a new charity - https://www.hopeforhermione.com
A Just Giving page has also been set up yo kick start the fundraising for crucial research into the rare disorder which includes dementia and Parkinson's type symptoms and a reduced life expectancy.
Speaking of the recent life changing news for Declan and his family, Hermione's mum, Caryn said;
"Although we have received the worst news possible, we still can make a change and have something good come out of all the tears."
Any support from our #EMCFAMILY and wider community would be greatly received.
CLICK HERE FOR THE JUST GIVING PAGE
#HOPEFORHERMIONE #DECLAN #EMCFAMILY #BPAN #AWARENESS #RESEARCH
