Henry Nowak Celebrity Football Match

A special afternoon celebrating his life – and love of football – with his family, friends and many others at Aveley Football Club

I’ve sat thinking about this for a long time, wondering how to put into words what Saturday meant.

When we first started talking about organising the Henry Nowak Memorial Match, we had one simple goal: to put a smile back on Lucy, Olivia and the family’s faces, even if it was just for one day. We wanted them to see just how loved Henry is and how many people would stand beside them.

What happened on Saturday was beyond anything we ever imagined.

Thousands of people came together. Businesses sponsored us, volunteers gave up countless hours of their time, people donated raffle prizes and complete strangers became part of something so incredibly special. Every single act of kindness helped create a day that Henry’s family will never forget.

To stand there and see people laughing, crying, hugging and sharing memories of Henry was overwhelming. It reminded us all that there is still so much goodness in this world.

Together, we raised an incredible £25,000 on the day for 2wish. That simply wouldn’t have been possible without every single person who bought a ticket, volunteered, sponsored, donated, played, performed or simply came along to support us.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Thank you for helping us celebrate Henry’s life in the most beautiful way possible. Thank you for surrounding his family with love. Thank you for proving what can happen when a community comes together. Special thanks go to Sellebrity Soccer & Averly Football Club who are absolute legends and we couldn’t have done it without them!

Henry’s legacy will never be defined by how he left this world. It will be defined by the love, compassion and hope that continue to grow in his name.

Henry, I hope we made you proud. ❤️💙.