International footballers set to score for Marie Curie

NORTHERN Ireland’s women’s international footballers will be throwing away their shin-pads away and trading their boots for track shoes for a special day in May.

The Women’s Football Association (NIWFA) is supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care by taking part in this year’s on Monday 7 May with some of the best women footballers in the province running to raise funds for this very worthy cause.

It will be a very different but rewarding outing for the footballers, fresh from their exploits in the Cyprus Cup and fully focused on winning a place in the UEFA finals.

NI skipper, Ashley Hutton, who picked up her 50th N.I. cap against South Korea in the Cyprus Cup, earlier this month will be taking part in the marathon.

Ashley is delighted to be helping to lift the profile of women’s football in Northern Ireland and in the process raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

“The marathon run is a fantastic idea and came from one of our younger international players Simone (Sunnie) Magill who plays for Mid Ulster ladies” said Elaine Junk the chair of the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association - the body that organises women’s football in NI.

“Sunnie suggested that some of the international players might want to take part in the Belfast marathon to raise money for a charity”

“As Marie Curie Cancer Care is the Irish Football Association’s official charity partner for 2012 they seemed the obvious choice and we have set ourselves a target of raising at least £2,500” suggested Elaine

She added “The NIWFA are delighted to have the opportunity to support Marie Curie with the work that they do and I have to say this is a charity that is particularly close to my heart as the Marie Curie nurses were a fantastic comfort and support to my dad during his illness”.

Corporate Development, Marie Curie Manager, Anne Hannon, has thanked the NIWFA for their offer to raise funds by taking part in the Belfast marathon.

“Money raised last year provided over 3,600 hours of high quality nursing care both at our Marie Curie Hospice in Belfast and in the local community. This care is totally free of charge, giving terminally ill patients the choice of dying at home or in the Hospice, supported by their families”

Elaine Junk (NIWFA) & Anne Hannon (Corporate Development Manager Marie Curie) & Geoff Wilson (Head of marketing and Communications) pictured at the launch of the NIWFA “Ladies set to score for Marie Curie event”

“We are delighted that the NIWFA is getting involved this May Day with the women’s national team participating to help Marie Curie Cancer Care continue to provide specialist nursing care across Northern Ireland.”

For more information on the 2012 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon log on to www.belfastcitymarathon.com and to find out about running for Marie Curie Cancer Care contact 08700 340040 or register online at www.mariecurie.org.uk/running.

Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/niwfa or follow the link on NIWFA website (www.niwfa.org)

Don’t remain offside – please go to the online page and make a donation however small and leave a message of support for our International Players!