GEORGIA STANWAY emotionally paid tribute to sufferers of Motor Neurone Disease as she remembered her close friend who passed away from the illness last year.
During lockdown, the cheeky Manchester City striker, 21, proved she could be a star both on and off the pitch as she rallied support for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.
Georgia Stanway and her family have helped raise £15,000 over lockdown to help the find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Stanway’s close family friend Peter Fell (Felly) passed away from the disease in August last year
The charity was set up by City skipper Steph Houghton’s husband – Stephen Darby and his friend Chris Rimmer.
The pair both have the debilitating disease, which mercilessly attacks the muscles and has no cure.
There is no cure and we have to find one because a lot of people are suffering
Georgia Stanway
Former Liverpool full-back Darby was told of his shattering diagnosis only months after his wedding to Steph in 2018 – and has been given just years to live.
Stanway’s close pal Pete Fell, from her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, tragically passed away in August last year, just five months after his diagnosis.
The City striker said: “I’m proudly a patron of the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation on behalf of Steph and Stephen.
“My family grew up with a very, very close friend called Felly and unfortunately he died a year ago. We raised a lot of money for him and wanted to do our bit to help find a cure.
“When Stephen created his foundation we were able to put the money that we’d raised for the Felly into finding a cure for MND.
Steph Houghton’s husband Stephen Darby (left) and his close friend Chris Rimmer (right) set up the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation Credit: Rex Features
Stephen found out about his diagnosis just months after his wedding to England and City captain Steph in 2018
“In lockdown, me, my dad and my step mum wanted to do a 100k in May and we had a lot of interest from people in Barrow.
“We had about 400 people that all donated a tenner and walked or ran the 100k with us.
“Each month my dad has loved creating a new plan and new exercises for the town to do to raise money.
“It’s been good because it’s allowed people in the town to focus on something and enjoy something.
“We also did ‘Steps for Stephen’ which was a walk of the distance of the football clubs that Stephen has played for.
“Steph is a close friend of ours and Stephen is too. It’s a horrible disease, we can only do our little bit to support them and this is us doing our bit.”
Thanks to Stanway and her family, the people of Barrow raised a staggering £15,000 for the charity during lockdown.
The England forward is proud to have raised awareness in a bid to help others battle MND.
She added: “People aren’t actually aware of the symptoms, how you can develop it, how it gets worse, how it makes you feel.
“That was the key thing for us to get across. That it’s uncontrollable and there is no cure and we have to find one because a lot of people are suffering.
“Whether we give £100 or £10, every little helps.
“I think it’s unbelievable how much we have created and obviously, we’re going to go for as much as we can.
“It’s a massive credit to my dad and my step mum who have thought of the idea and pushed it.”
Today, the striker turns her attention to the Women’s Super League and City’s first match against newly promoted Aston Villa.
The Manchester outfit narrowly missed out on the title last season after the top-flight was axed and the table was determined by points-per-game, with Chelsea crowned champions.
But Stanway insists Gareth Taylor’s side are back with a vengeance after the March Covid-19 shutdown.
She continued: “Everyone is just so excited to get going. I feel like this has been the longest pre-season ever.
“It’s the longest time I’ve ever spent with my family and I’ve had enough of them now and I’m ready to get going.
“I’m used to just seeing my family on a Sunday at the game, so I’d love that to happen again.
“But we’re ready to get back out there and showcase the work we’ve been putting in during lockdown.”
USA World Cup winners Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle are set to make their WSL debuts for Gareth Taylor’s side today, while Lauren Hemp is out with a hamstring injury.
Click here to donate to the Darby Rimmer Foundation.
Steph Houghton has revealed she is prepared to sacrifice her World Cup dream for husband Stephen Darby
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
