The special charity football match, held at Shanklin Football Club on Saturday 23rd May, saw a Team Teddy XI take on the Isle of Wight Ladies Football Team in an afternoon full of generosity and support.
Organised to support Team Teddy, the event brought together families, friends and local residents, all united behind Teddy and his family. The day featured stalls, a raffle, family entertainment and a prize draw, creating a lively, uplifting atmosphere both on and off the pitch. All funds raised will go towards investing in vital mitochondrial disease research.
The Lily Foundation’s CEO and Founder, Liz Curtis, along with her partner Dave, were also there to show their support, highlighting the impact of community-led fundraising in driving progress for families affected by incurable mitochondrial diseases.
Teddy’s story was at the heart of the day. Born in June 2022, he was just 18 months old when his parents, Jess and Dan, received the devastating news that he has an extremely rare, life-limiting mitochondrial condition caused by a fault in the DNAJC19 gene. The condition is so rare that Teddy’s believed to be the only child in the UK living with it, and one of just 55 known cases worldwide.
Despite the challenges he faces – including ongoing monitoring of his heart and energy levels – Teddy is described by his parents as a “happy and determined little boy” whose smile rarely fades, even on the toughest days.
With support from The Lily Foundation, Jess and Dan established Team Teddy, bringing family and friends together to raise funds and help accelerate research into mitochondrial disease treatments. Events like Saturday’s match are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities unite behind a shared cause.
So far, the event has raised over £4,000, with more donations still to come in – an incredible amount. That success has sparked hopes of making the match an annual event, and headline sponsor The Waterfront have already confirmed that they’d love to be involved again next year.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who came along and supported the day,” said the couple. “It really does mean the world to us. We raised an incredible amount of money and, importantly, we raised awareness of what mito is, something so many families are facing, often without the understanding or recognition they deserve."