Paviors RFC to honour teammate Oliver with charity game for PASIC
Paviors RFC U13s team will take to the pitch this Saturday in memory of their late teammate, Oliver.
Oliver passed away in June 2024 from Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. The match, played against local side Southwell RFC Under 13s, will raise funds for PASIC, a charity that provided vital support to Oliver and his family.
Oliver joined Paviors RFC in 2018 when he was six years old and quickly became an important part of the team.
Jane Slater, U13 team manager, said: “He was a tough competitor despite his small stature, a great teammate, and he always brought a ton of speed and energy to the pitch.”
The team kept in close contact with Oliver’s family and wanted to do something special to honour his memory.
The match will be part of a bigger weekend at Paviors RFC, coinciding with the club’s Beer Festival and their 1st XV’s game against Tamworth.
The U13s match will be a curtain-raiser on Saturday, with the team then forming the guard of honour for the senior team.
QR codes linking to the fundraising page, a matchday programme featuring Oliver’s story, and a series of fundraising initiatives, including a raffle and a cake sale run by the Under 13s’ parents, will also be available.
PASIC provides emotional and practical support to children and young people with cancer, as well as their families, across the East Midlands. The charity played a crucial role in supporting Oliver and his family.
The driving force behind this event has been the close-knit community of parents and players at Paviors RFC. Other rugby clubs have also shown their support: Ilkeston RFC held a collection among their Under 13s parents, Southwell RFC have put together a hamper for the raffle and several other rugby clubs have donated to the fundraiser.
The event promises to be more than just a game: it’s a tribute to a much-missed teammate, a celebration of his love for rugby, and a way to make a lasting difference in his name.
To support the fundraiser, visit the event's JustGiving page.
