ACE Academy raise £4,500 for seven-year-old battling cancer
ACE Academy have raised £4,500 for a seven-year-old battling cancer after holding a charity event at Rushall Olympic's Dales Lane on Sunday.
Spencer Findlay, who is the grandson of the late former Aston Villa goalkeeper Jake Findlay, was diagnosed with kidney cancer earlier this year.
He is currently undergoing chemotherapy and ACE Academy held a raffle at their annual 'Party on the Pitch' to raise funds for any future treatment Spencer may need.
The raffle had raised over £1,000 by Friday and eventually reached £4,500 after the event concluded on Sunday evening.
Former Walsall midfielder Wayne Thomas, who is also the founder of ACE Academy, was joined by his ex-Saddlers teammates Jimmy Walker and Chris Marsh at Dales Lane.
Aston Villa legend and Jake Findlay's former teammate Brian Little was also in attendance, as ACE played a tribute game for the ex-goalkeeper on what would've been his 71st birthday.
"We had a tribute game to the late Jake Findlay, which would've been his birthday that day," Thomas said.
"And we also used the raffle to raise vital funds potentially in the future for a young player of ours, Spencer Findlay, who has Wilms disease, which is a form of kidney cancer.
"It was an amazing day. Brian Little, Chris Marsh, Jimmy Walker and approximately 500 family, friends and people supporting the day.
"Fantastically with some big donations and everyone's support, we raised for £4,500, which will go to Spencer's potential future treatment needs.
"If he doesn't need it then the family are going to donate it to Birmingham Children's Hospital. Overall, an amazing day, and from ACE, it shows the spirit and the local football community and friends.
"Everybody coming together to support a great cause and a strong little boy."
