A GROUP of aspiring footballers are putting their fitness to the test as they raise money to support a teammate’s mother who has cancer.

Halstead Town Under-13s football team are aiming to complete a combination of sit-ups and push-ups every day during February to reach 30,000 or more reps between them by the end of the month.

The squad are doing it to support Kate Saunders, who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer last November.

Kate, 44, from Gosfield, is the mother of Ellis, who plays for the team.

Manager Gemma Cunliffe organised the challenge and hopes to raise enough money for Kate and the family to enjoy a day out or a weekend away.

Gemma said: “We wanted to help in any way we could.

“The boys are a lovely bunch of lads, and the support for Ellis is great.

“It is important we do it as a team. The boys have already found it tough, but it isn’t supposed to be easy and I am so proud of them.

“Kate battles every single day, and we need to know we’ve worked hard to support her.”

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Kate and husband Darron, 44, live in Gosfield with children Maddie, 16, and Ellis, 12.

Kate was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, and after having an operation was advised it was removed.

However, Kate was re-diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in November.

She said: “In November, I started having some digestive problems, so I went to see the consultant, did an ultrasound and saw that my liver had expanded.

“I was then diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.

“It is not curable, but it is something that can be treated and I am in the process of weekly chemotherapy.”

Kate says she is grateful for the effort from the team.

She said: “I’m really overwhelmed.

“We said to Gemma we wanted to donate it to charity, but we weren’t allowed – we don’t feel like we can accept it.

“It is amazing what they’ve done, and it shows if they work together, they can do something really nice.”

To donate, visit bit.ly/3LIOJAm.