Ravi’s Dream hits £81,000 after a star-studded charity football match
Eight-year-old Ravi Adelekan’s latest fundraising event, a charity football day, raised over £3000, bringing his fundraising total to over £80,000!
By Kelly_Neubeiser
Hosted by the Preston Park Panthers and Worthing Football Club, the charity football fundraiser began with a 7-a-side Under 8’s tournament and then a mixed women’s and men’s match.
Many celebrities joined Ravi and his friends on the field, including Masterchef’s Jimi Famurewa, musician Romy Madley Croft of The xx, Ravi’s uncle and Gorillaz band member Seye Adelekan, Joseph Mount of Metronomy, singer Denai Moore, and Ceylon Andi Hickman from Dulwich Hamlet Womens.
When we got home from the event at Worthing FC, Ravi said ‘that was the best Sunday of my life… can we do it again?’.
Apart from again showing the phenomenal love and support of our community, the adult players on Ravi’s Dream Team gave him some memories he will carry with him for a long, long time. He got to give team talks in the dressing room and bark orders from the touchline, and those players ran through the proverbial wall to try and get a result for their gaffer.
The way they literally embraced and lifted Ravi up when the first goal went in… well, there weren’t many dry eyes in the ground.
Gbenga, Ravi’s Dad
The charity football match raised more than £3,000, bringing Ravi even closer to smashing the £250,000 target. Every penny will help people affected by a brain tumour diagnosis live longer, better lives.
Ravi’s story
In September 2021, Ravi was diagnosed with a benign tumour in his brain stem. While surgeons were able to remove most of the tumour, Ravi and his family are still left with the everyday effects.
On the one-year-anniversary of his diagnosis, Ravi decided to share his dream of a world where children with brain tumours can get the help they need. Supported by a star-studded cast – including Bastille, Coldplay, Paloma Faith, Mary Barry and more – Ravi released his own version of The Greatest Showman’s “A Million Dreams” to raise vital funds and awareness for brain tumours. It was then that our paths crossed, and we had the honour of meeting this brave young man and his family.
The first time I met Ravi, mum Bethan, dad Gbenga & sister Maya back in November 2022 at Ravi’s song launch, after many months of Zoom calls, I immediately felt part of the family. I also instantly fell in love with Ravi & Maya.
It is my absolute pleasure to work alongside this amazing family, they inspire me every day with their strength, resilience, positivity and energy.
Claire Howell, Community Fundraiser at The Brain Tumour Charity
Since the launch of Ravi’s Dream, Ravi has shared his story with people all over the world through various television, radio, and print features, including ITV’s This Morning, BBC Breakfast News, Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6Music show and The Week Junior Magazine. More recently, he received the Gold Award at The Child of Sussex 2023 awards for his tireless efforts to improve the lives of those affected by a brain tumour diagnosis.
With over £80,000 raised of his £250,000 target, Ravi continues to inspire and remind us of why we must all work together to find a cure for brain tumours.
If you are inspired by Ravi’s story, there are lots of ways you can get involved. Find out more about how you can organise your own charity fundraiser, and raise funds to move us all further, faster towards a cure.
Or if you would prefer to take part in an organised event, check out our events page and sign up to a new challenge.
