Source: Backpage Images/England Netball

It’s the First Celebrity Netball Match to Battle Cancer on Court!

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Cancer Research UK has teamed up with England Netball, sports bra brand Freya Active and Sky Sports to organise an all-female star charity match to promote positive women’s health and to raise vital funds for research into the nation’s biggest killer. Two teams of celebrities will battle it out on court – including top ten artists Neon Jungle; DJ Gemma Cairney and Made In Chelsea’s Fran Newman-Young.

Hosted by Laura Whitmore, the celebrity netball match will be played on Wednesday 17th December at The Olympic Village, Copper Box Arena at 6pm right before the International Netball Series shown live on Sky Sports.  With a crowd of over 6,000 expected to attend, the match will be fast-paced, exhilarating as well as entertaining and funds from each ticket sold, as well as contributions made on the day, will go towards Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving work.

Brushing up on their skills beforehand some of the celebrity players will take part in Back to Netball classes, an award-winning scheme that runs nationwide encouraging women to return to the sport they once loved. The Back to Netball programme has brought 50,000 ladies back to the sport since its launch in 2010. Also helping the stars, sportswear brand Freya Active will be kitting the players in perfectly fitting sportswear for both training and the game, so the celebrities will have the perfect support during the game!

In addition to funding life-saving research, the match will spread the word that more than four in 10 cancers could be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle.  This startling statistic equates to around 49,000 cases of cancer in the UK each year that could be prevented by eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active. And being active doesn’t have to mean running marathons or joining a gym.  Playing a casual game of netball is a great example of how you can be active without breaking the bank.

England Netball’s Commercial Director, Jo Adams, says: “We’re delighted to be staging this match – not only is it a great way to show our continued support for our chosen charity, it’s also a fantastic way to profile the positive impact that sport can have on the lives of everyone – even busy celebrities!  We’ve worked in partnership with Cancer Research UK since 2010, raising almost £2 million to fund life-saving research.  But for us it doesn’t stop there.  It’s just as important that we are encouraging people to make healthy lifestyle choices and become more aware of the ways they can reduce their risk of developing cancer.”

Teresa Hicks from Cancer Research UK said: “Our work never stops to promote positive women’s health and raise awareness about the risks of cancer. We’re delighted to have come together with Freya Active, England Netball and Sky Sports all of whom are advocates of this great cause. We are incredibly grateful to all these well-known female faces for making this event possible.”

Freya Active’s Head of Marketing Ann-Marie Manley said: “We’re really passionate about promoting positive women’s health and believe in the importance of women receiving the right support during sport. We’re absolutely delighted to have teamed up with CRUK, England Netball and Sky Sports for this great event and we’re thrilled to have such great support from so many well-known celebrity names. We can’t wait for the match to take place.”

To purchase tickets for the match simply click here and catch highlights of the match on Sky Sports.

More information about the match, including details of how to buy tickets, can be found at England Netball

Confirmed celebrity netballers:

Tamsin Greenway (Coach)

Tracey Neville (Coach)

Gemma Cairney – Radio 1 DJ

Yasmin Evans – 1xtra DJ

Fran Newman-Young – Made In Chelsea TV star

Georgia LA – Presenter

Collette Cooper – DJ

Holly Davidson – Personal Trainer

Kelli Young – singer

Kierston Wareing – presenter

Vikki Stone – comedian

Di Dougherty – Sky Sports presenter

Neon Jungle (Jess, Asami, Shereen & Amira) – musicians

Clara Amfo 1xtra presenter

*With more celebrity names to be announced