A West Lothian football club are to hold a charity football match.
Blackburn United are hosting the game in aid of Sepsis Research on May 31 in memory of ex-captain Andy Cooper’s daughter who sadly passed away last year.
Little Heidi Cooper died in July 2019, aged just nine months, after a short battle with sepsis and now her parents, Andy and Charlotte, want to raise awareness about the condition.
Following their daughter’s death Andy and Charlotte almost immediately began to raise awareness and money for Sepsis Research to try and save lives.
Charlotte said at the time: “Parents need to know more about sepsis, it kills so many people. I can’t help but think that if we knew more about sepsis she could still be here now - I would have insisted it to the doctors and asked her to be checked sooner. Every hour counts with sepsis and the chance of surviving it - I don’t want this to happen to another innocent baby.”
The game in May will feature a Blackburn Legends side playing against Dunipace and Fauldhouse Legends at the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium and will kick off at 1pm. Entry will be by donation.
All proceeds will go to the Sepsis Research and Brightest Star charities.
Sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Normally our immune system fights infection but sometimes, for reasons we don’t yet understand, it attacks our body’s own organs and tissues. Symptoms in adults include slurred speech, shivering, muscle pain, passing no urine, breathing difficulties and mottled or discoloured skin. With children fits and convulsions, lethargy, extreme vomiting and rashes that do not disappear on touch may be symptoms of sepsis.
The family have set-up a JustGiving page for people keen to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/heidis-heroes-sepsis2020
