Football match to raise awareness of diabetes

The event will take place at Priory School, in Fawcett Road, Southsea, on Saturday from midday until 2pm.

Organiser Jimmy Wall, 37, from Shearer Road, Buckland, said all ages and abilities are welcome to take part.

He said: ‘It is raising awareness that if a young person who has diabetes does not get it checked, it can be very bad and lead them to going blind.

‘People just ignore it. If, through this tournament, just one person goes and has the test then we will have achieved something.’

Michael Betteridge, from Portsea, who has diabetes and went blind, will be with his family at the tournament to spread the word.

The tournament costs a suggested donation of £5 to take part, which will go towards a fund set up to help 30-year-old Mr Betteridge, a dad-of-two.

Mr Wall said: ‘It is more about awareness than the money.

‘We have already raised enough to send Michael and his family on holiday, so this is about making people aware of the dangers and to let people in Pompey who have already donated know what we are doing.’