THE customary match between Okehampton?s football and rugby clubs to raise money for leukaemia charities takes place later this month. The Neal Cousins Memorial Day is now in its eighth year and it is the turn of Okehampton Football Club to stage the event on Sunday, August 28. The fun gets underway at noon with the kick-off of the big game where Okehampton?s rugby players will try to beat their footballing counterparts at their own game, at 3pm. There will be a magic show and face-painting to entertain the young and in the evening, there will be live music and a disco. There will also be an under-14s match and a penalty shoot-out before the main event. A range of sporting memorabilia will be auctioned off at the event included a signed London Irish rugby shirt, signed Leeds United and Manchester City team photos, and family tickets for Plymouth Albion and Exeter City plus many more goodies besides. Donations of draw prizes are most welcome, please contact Dave Watts on 01837 659121. All funds raised will be split three ways between the Exeter Leukaemia Fund and the two clubs to aid their development and continuing role within the town. The match is played in memory of keen Okehampton sportsman Neal Cousins who died of leukaemia, aged just 24, in 1997. Since the annual event began eight years ago, more than £30,000 has been raised for ELF.
