A BIG family fun day will be held at Frome Football Club this Sunday, 19th March, to raise money for local man Jamie Mines.
Football clubs and businesses from Frome and the surrounding areas will unite this weekend for the inaugural ‘Play 4 J’ fun day at Frome Town’s ground.
The event aims to raise funds for scaffolder and semi-professional footballer Jamie Mines, 33, who was electrocuted at work shortly before Christmas. The father of newborn twin girls has had both arms and a leg amputated. He was recently moved from Southmead Hospital in Bristol to Oxford, where he will start rehabilitation.
A recent statement from the family said, “To date, Jamie has defied the odds, fighting infection after infection and overcoming the terrible injuries he sustained to begin his road to recovery.
“Throughout Jamie’s recovery he has shown superhuman strength and character, he remains upbeat and determined, we are so proud of him.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the love and support his friends, family, the great town of Frome and everyone who’s been involved in raising money for Jamie has had a major impact on Jamie’s recovery and for this we cannot thank you enough.”
The ‘Play 4 J’ fun day is being organised by the Friends of Jamie Mines group, and will see 12 football teams compete for the Mines Cup.
Each participating team is a former club which Jamie has played for in the past. They include Larkhall, Radstock, Frome Town and Sunday League sides The Ring o Bells and Witham Friary.
Frome Town Legends manager Andy Crabtree said, “I am honoured and delighted to be a part of this amazing event.
“Jamie is a cracking guy and deserves all the support he can get. It was no issue assembling a team. In fact quite the opposite, with the amount of former first team players in contact wanting to take part.”
Frome’s Tony Pounder and all-time leading goal scorer, Mark Salter, are confirmed in the town’s squad.
Speaking on behalf of the event organisers, Billy Wright explained, “The support from the town has been immense. When we came up with this idea we didn’t anticipate the response and the support would be so rapid.
“This just goes to show the love for Jamie and his family and what a great town like Frome can achieve when it pulls together; we should all be proud. Jamie is making a steady recovery, and is fully aware of the amazing support and is so very grateful. It’s inspiring his recovery process. A video of the day is being made for Jamie and he cannot wait to see it!”
The event isn’t just football based – there will be plenty of entertainment for kids plus a sporting auction with a race-worn Jenson Button helmet up for grabs.
The event kicks off at 11.30am with the tournament final scheduled for 5pm. Entry is free, and donations on the gate are welcome.
The auction, which is expected to be the biggest sporting auction the town has ever seen, starts at approximately 6pm. Entry costs £20 but will be refunded upon a winning bid. For details go to www.auctionforjamie.com
For more information about the day contact Billy on 07796 616894 or email friendsofjamiem@gmail.com
You can also keep an eye out for developments by searching ‘Jamie Mines Fundraising’ on Facebook or search #ForJamie on Twitter.
Organisers wish to thank their main sponsors for the event: CPM, Berkeley Coaches, Cooper and Tanner and MDS Scaffolding. Also match sponsors: A Class Products, Clive Lewis Letting, Hunter French, HandB Tyres, Crafty Creations, Lettings R Us, Launier Carpets, MSN Youth League, Postlebury Breakdown, Shaun Burton Transport, SM Surfacing, Valley Transport Service, Frome Scaffolding, Seven Stars (Winsley), Rocket Masonry, Adams Auto Centre, TP Ecology, Surrey Hills Wealth Management, White Hart Trudoxhill, Ricky Fenby, Interaction, JB Auto’s Dennis Maps, Frome Tri Club, Pearns Tree Services, Stuart Master Thatcher and Wiltshire Electrical Wholesales.
