A HEXHAM mum has organised a football tournament in aid of a charity which is close to her heart.

Cheryl Hutchinson will be forever grateful to the support she received at the special baby care unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, when her daughter Chloe was born in 2005.

Fast forward 13 years, and Cheryl is now welfare officer at Hexham Football Club, and Chloe plays for the club’s U14 girls’ team.

Cheryl has organised a tournament, which will take place on Sunday in aid of Tiny Lives, the charity which supports premature and sick babies, and their families, at the RVI.

The tournament, at Dukes House, Hexham, will include boys and girls teams from Hexham, and visiting clubs from Corbridge, Haydon Bridge, Stocksfield, Wylam, Ponteland, Kingston Park, and Ryton.

The goal is to raise sufficient funds to put together blessing bags containing treats for new mothers with children at the unit.

Cheryl said: “We just want to do something nice for the mums in the unit, and we have been well supported by businesses, who have donated everything from hand cream, to children’s books, and even chocolate tea cakes, which will go inside the blessing bags.

“The unit does a lot of good for many mums. Chloe was a premature baby and the support I received at that time was incredible, but it’s not about us.

“We just want to put on a really good tournament on behalf of Hexham FC, and raise some money for a very worthy cause in Tiny Lives at the same time.”

Coaches from the Newcastle United foundation will attend the tournament, and will run football-related activities.

The day will get under way from 9.30am, and is open to the public. There will be stalls and refreshments in the clubhouse, as well as treats to pamper mums in attendance.