Man auctions off son’s soccer allegiance for charity
Parents Ian and Jo Charters were a little worried when their baby son Eddie was born six weeks premature and weighed in at just 3lb 11oz.
Tiny Eddie had to spend the first four weeks of his life at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport, England until he was well enough to be let home.
Today Eddie, the couple’s first child, is a healthy seven-month-old and dad Ian was so touched by the care he was given that he decided he had to give something in return.
Ian set himself a goal of raising £2,500 for the charity that helped Eddie and his family, Bliss - who are dedicated to getting the best care and support possible for premature babies and their families.
Ian has his own donations page and is planning to run the London Marathon for the charity, however he felt he also needed to do something slightly different as well.
Living in the Greater Manchester area, Ian sees a lot of pictures of young children in Man United and Man City jerseys on the Facebook pages of his friends, which struck him with an unusual fundraising idea.
He decided he would auction off his new son’s soccer allegiance on eBay to either United or City to help his charity goal.
The winning bid of £190 would come from neither the red or sky blue side however, as Ian was asked if he would accept a bid from a fan of local side Stockport County.
Ian accepted and now Eddie will support a team sitting in the sixth tier of English football - the Conference North.
The winning bidder Daniel Eade, a Stockport County fanatic, was inspired by Ian and Eddie’s story as he also had a son, Alex, born prematurely.
Yesterday, Ian and Eddie travelled to the Edgeley Park stadium after the club offered their newest supporter a free home shirt and teddy bear.
Things didn’t go well as poor Eddie was slightly unimpressed by the teddy bear and Ian admits he does feel a small bit guilty for landing Eddie with Stockport for life.
"It'll be good for his character building. It's good to support your local team," Ian told the BBC.
Ian may have also dodged a bullet with ticket prices too, as a child ticket costs £17 at Manchester United and a whooping £23 pounds at City.
Stockport County for their part only ask for a single pound to come watch their team.
Eddie is a little young to attend just yet, but hopefully he will grow to love his new team.
Ian has seen a massive pick up in donations to his charity page since the story went viral and now sits on £796, he is hoping to get to his goal of £2,500 by the time he runs the London Marathon in April next year.
