Paddy McGuinness, Adam Thomas and more celebs to take on ex-pros in football match to mark Arena bomb anniversary
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA charity football match that will see former professionals take on celebrities is taking place next month to mark the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing.
Named Manchester Remembers, the event on April 3 is being organised by former police officer, Aaron Lee, who was one of the first on the scene during the attack in 2017.
He worked with the victims’ families in the aftermath of the tragedy - and has shown continued support in his fundraising efforts, helping to raise £44,000 for the charities that were set up in memory of the 22 victims. READ MORE: It took police years to admit Arena bomb failings - and there are still big questions for GMP “I’m driven by my relationship with the families, to this day, I’ve got a really close bond with them,” Aaron said. “I see how much they’re still hurt and are struggling with what happened, certain dates will be triggers for them, and I get it that over time, it fades into the background a little.
But for these families, I speak to them pretty much every day, it’s very much still the centre of their world.” Aaron, who is now a firefighter, alongside his friend Paul Corrigan, a local business owner, wanted to do something extra special to commemorate the anniversary and felt a football match was fitting. “I’ve always played football, I’m a Manchester United fan, so we thought a Manchester-themed Soccer Aid; it grew from there,” the 36-year-old explained. “We’re very much a footballing city.
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