Report: Rachel Lund

Photos: Michael Dawson Photography

At the start of the season our local team Burscough Dynamo under 11's needed a new kit so The Alfie Lund Fund stepped in and sponsored the boys.

It was nice to be able to give something back to the community that has always supported us and see Alfie's logo on their shirts. It is a honour to support the team as all the boys are Alfie's age - this is the team Alfie might have played for if he'd been able so it seemed quite fitting if not a little poignant.

Alfie is one of about 35 children in the UK to have the disorder MECP2 Duplication syndrome. But he loves going to watch football despite suffering from a life limiting disorder which means he can't walk or talk, has profound and multiple learning difficulties, complex epilepsy and spends frequent spells in hospital with infections which he struggles to fight - among many other issues.

We were amazed when the club got in touch to say they were building a stand in his honour at the Thomas Galvin sports fields as a thank you and to help raise awareness of the condition with lots of families and teams using the stand on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Sunday we went to the opening; Alfie cut the ribbon to officially open the stand.

Times like this shows football means more than 90 minutes; in the team photo the lads and Alfie are with managers Russell Evans and James Bevan.