A MOULTON dad has organised a football match to raise money for a charity that is enabling his family to be together while his son receives treatment.

Alex Dargie, 37, has been staying in the Ronald McDonald House in Liverpool with his family while his seven-month-old son, Raphael is being treated in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Raphael suffers from Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome which means that the left side of his heart is underdeveloped and he is also being treated for Schone’s Syndrome which means that there are a number of defects in the left side of his heart.

Alex said: “We’ve been going to the Ronald McDonald House for about six months and they have been absolutely fantastic with us.

“I don’t know what we would have done without them. They’ve allowed us to keep our family together while Raphael has been receiving his treatment.

“We stayed for four months during our last visit and they only asked for £25 as a deposit for the room and they even offer a home cooked meal once a week.

“If we had to spend that time in a hotel this would be a massive financial struggle for us."

Alex said that the community within the Ronald McDonald House has helped his family during this time.

Alex said: “It’s just one big dining room so when you are eating you do just get chatting to people.

“The conditions Raphael has are rare but because Alder Hey is a specialist hospital, there are a number of parents whose children have the same condition, with some at the age 15 and 16.

“It has helped to show us that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

The charity football match will be hosted at Middlewich Town Football Club and Alex has started a new team with the hope of organising more charity football matches.

The match is between All Blacks FC and Team Footprints, from Nottingham who will be fundraising for Little Hearts Matter.

Alex said: “Me and one of my friends have taken part in a few charity matches but this is our first as All Blacks FC.

“We are hoping to do one game a month now that we’ve started.

“Team Footprints are well known in the charity football world and they play about six games every month and they are the ones who have organised the celebrity appearances.

“So far we have James Hooton who played Sam Dingle in Emmerdale confirmed to appear at the event.”

The charity match takes place on Sunday, May 12 from midday and tickets cost £5 per adult, £2 per child or a family ticket is £8.

There will be a raffle and the prizes include an ASDA hamper, a meal for two in Tex Mex in Cheshire Oaks, Adidas football boots, a signed Manchester City shirt and a signed Manchester United shirt.