Battles of the sexes in Norwich to raise cash for cancer charity

The girls take on the boys at football later this month as a battle of the sexes takes place in the name of charity.

One of the players taking part in the match in Norwich will be organiser Lindsey Betts, who came to the end of treatment for breast cancer three weeks ago.

The delivery driver, from West Earlham, was diagnosed in early 2009 and had to undergo a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstruction surgery.

Miss Betts had already lost her mum and aunt to breast cancer but took the diagnosis in her stride and kept positive. She was even back at work just days after surgery.

She said: 'I would rather be at work than sitting at home and feeling sorry for myself. I would not let it beat me.'

Helping her through the difficult time was Norwich-based breast cancer reconstruction support group Keeping Abreast.

The charity, which meets every other month, acts as a support to women who are considering either immediate or delayed breast reconstruction.

Miss Betts, 34, said that women who had had the surgery attended to show what work they had done. She said: 'They put your mind at ease at what can happen after the surgery. The amazing ladies are so brave.'

Miss Betts, 34, wanted to find a way to say thank you for their support and decided, as a keen footballer for many years, that a match was the best way.

She said: 'This group, Keeping Abreast, is such a brilliant bunch of ladies. I wanted to give something back to them and thought 'what can I do?''

Before being diagnosed with cancer in early 2009, Lindsey played football regularly for Norwich City Ladies and Norfolk Ladies.

This charity event is to be her comeback to playing, as she rejoins her friends in their Costessey Ladies seven-a-side team. The 11-a-side match will see them take on a team including men from her employers, Kett Autopaints, and customer Landamores. Unfortunately her 'fantastic' surgeon Andrea Figus, who previously played professional football in Italy, is unable to play.

The match takes place at Anglian Windows Social Club, in Holt Road, Norwich, on Sunday, July 31 – almost exactly a year since her reconstruction surgery. There will also be raffles, auctions, bouncy castles, face painting, live music, food and drink. The day runs from 11.30am-6pm with kick-off at 12.30pm.

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