A young cancer patient's family is rallying support for a charity event at St Mary's Stadium.

Friends and family of 11-year-old Charlie Travers, from Bitterne, Southampton, are calling on the city to come together on Sunday, September 22, to show support for children with cancer.

Charlie's parents, Colleen and Gary, hope to gather 3,200 people to stand hand in hand around the pitch, symbolising the distance from Charlie's home to Southampton General Hospital.

Charlie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in March and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the General Hospital.

The event, organised by Colleen and her friends Lydia, Louise, and Danielle, aims to show solidarity for all children facing cancer in Southampton and to raise funds for charities that supported Charlie's family during her treatment.

Colleen said: “We are organising this event, not just for Charlie and those treated on the ward now, but for children who have been treated for cancer on the Piam Brown ward before and those who will be treated in the future.

“Fifteen years ago, the chances of survival from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were much slimmer, so we are so lucky to have the NHS and those researching childhood cancer.

"I am mum to four children; Brad (25), Caprice (21), Charlie (11) and Chanel (9) and I do everything they can for them to flourish, be the best they can be at school and at home and I don’t want Charlie’s cancer diagnosis to stop that."

The funds raised will be donated to Young Lives vs Cancer, Abby’s Heroes, and Southampton Hospital Charity. St Mary’s Stadium will be open from 12.30pm on September 22, and the hand-holding ceremony is scheduled for around 1.20pm.

Participants will also have the opportunity to watch the Southampton FC women’s team play against Blackburn Rovers.

Post-match, entertainment will be provided in the Browns Pub, along with a raffle. The event is part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, aiming to raise awareness and support for young cancer patients and their families.

Anyone interested in attending can make a suggested donation of £5 per ticket that includes entry to the game starting 2pm at tinyurl.com/25vnnecx and email wearecharliesangels2024@gmail.com to find out how to collect your tickets.