Invicta to start the season by being charitable

Fans at Folkestone Invicta’s match against Enfield Town will be asked to dig deep to help three charities very close to those involved with the club - the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, and research into XXYY Syndrome.

Cancer Research has long had the support of the Folkestone faithful, particularly following the loss of club legend and physio Dave Williams just over a year ago. Willo was not the only one, of course, and several supporters have even more recently had experience closer to home- while one of Invicta's greatest supporters has had heart problems for a very, very long time, but will be at tomorrow’s game in his buggy, which is great news indeed.

But there’s a very good likelihood that you’ve never heard of XXYY Syndrome. Stripes Press Officer Mick is on hand to explain more.

“Several months ago I received an email from Darren Stock, a member of the Kent Police, whose five-year-old son Joseph has XXYY Syndrome. This is a chromosome abnormality which affects only one in somewhere between 20,000 up to half a million people, and a condition which many UK medical professionals remain largely unaware of.

Darren and a friend are next Thursday undertaking a bike ride from Maidstone to Folkestone then onto Dover and Margate, ending up that evening in a B&B in Canterbury before returning to Maidstone via Faversham and Sheppey on Friday morning, all to raise funds for research into this disease. They will be visiting 10 clubs in all after a gruelling ride of over 200 miles.

Joseph and Darren are big football fans – I believe he’s a little bit of a celebrity at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium where they are regular followers of Steve Lovell’s side – and we are delighted to help with the fund raising. We will be holding a bucket collection at Saturday’s match and we’d be bowled over if those attending could dig deep.

You can really make a difference to three wonderful charities and help to change lives for the better. All the proceeds of the bike ride will go to XXYY research while what we raise will be shared between the three causes.

Mick added:

“And if any of our supporters are free next Thursday, (August 16th) at around 12.15pm I’d be delighted if they could join me at the club to meet up with the two cyclists to hand over their share of what we raise.”

Given Invicta have sold a record number of season tickets, and have a record number of Junior Passport Holders expected to attend, too, there should be a large crowd to boost the charitable coffers.

Please give generously!