Star names to kick off this weekend in support of ex-Owl Tommy Spurr's son Rio

CELEBRITIES and former professional footballers will take part in a match this weekend to raise funds for a young boy with a rare form of cancer.

Rio Spurr (3), son of former Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers defender Tommy Spurr, was diagnosed with Wilms tumour in April this year — a form of kidney cancer with which only 70 children diagnosed every year in the UK.

His family said their world had been “completely destroyed” when they found out Rio’s diagnosis but added they were determined to fundraise for new treatments or clinical trials available overseas due to the “low survival rate associated with the condition”.

And Rio achieved a “landmark moment” when he ended a stage of chemotherapy last month.

Former Millers shotstopper Richard O’Donnell and his son Archie raised over £7,000 for Rio and his family by undertaking a 3km run every day throughout July to show their support.

Tommy has announced a fundraising game will be played at Doncaster Rovers’ Eco-Power Stadium this Sunday, November 13, at 2pm.

Organisers of the football match Sellebrity Soccer — launched in 2012 to raise even more money for charity by organising celebrity football matches — said Tommy would pull back on his boots for the game, along with several former footballers including James Coppinger, Chris Brown, Rob Jones, Frank Sinclair, Martin Woods, Dean Saunders and Billy Paynter.

Former Eastenders star Dean Gaffney, DJ Tom Zanetti and TV chef Dean Edwards are some of the celebrities expected to take part in the game, according to Sellebrity Soccer.

Rio took to the pitch at halftime during Doncaster Rovers’ home game with Gillingham on October 29 where he scored a goal in a moment his dad described as “emotional”.

Tommy added: “So looking forward to playing with and against some of my old teammates at Rio’s fundraising game on November 13.

“We really need your support.”

Celebrities set to feature in the game include Lewis Reeves (Unforgotten), Tom Zanetti (DJ), Sharkey (YouTube), Dan Osborne (The Only Way is Essex), Jake Cornish (Love Island), Man Like Haks (comedian), Ashley Taylor Dawson (Hollyoaks), Dean Gaffney (Eastenders), Flintz (Britain’s Got Talent), Dean Edwards (TV chef), Matt Lapinskas (Eastenders), Warren Phiilips (Survival of the Fittest), Chet Sket (Ex on the Beach).

Tickets for the event are on sale now, priced at £10 for adults and £7 concessions and available at https://tinyurl.com/Rio-Spurr-game.