EastEnders’ Jake Wood to Play in Charity Football Match for Child With Rare Condition
Stars Take to the Pitch for a Cause
Soap stars, comedians, and internet personalities are lacing up their boots this weekend in support of a little boy living with a devastating rare disease.
EastEnders legend Jake Wood will be among the celebrities playing in a charity football match at Hartley Wintney FC’s Memorial Playing Fields on Sunday, September 28. He’ll be joined by fellow Walford alumni Ricky Groves and Bleu Landau, TikTok goalkeeper Cal The Dragon, comedian Man Like Haks, and many more.
The event will raise vital funds for the MEF2C Foundation, which supports children with MEF2C Haploinsufficiency Syndrome — a rare and currently incurable neurological condition.
Laike’s Story
The match is being held in honour of three-year-old Laike Lawrance, an ambassador for the foundation. Laike lives with MEF2C Haploinsufficiency Syndrome, which affects his movement, speech, and development. He experiences seizures, low muscle tone, and profound developmental delays.
His mother, Vikki Lawrance, explained the importance of the fundraiser:
“The money raised will go directly towards developing and releasing the first-ever treatment for this condition. Thanks to last year’s support, we’ve made huge progress. There are now two therapies in development, and we expect them to be ready and proven in the lab by the end of this year.”
She added that the team is preparing for clinical trials and working with regulators to build the first-ever natural history of MEF2C — a vital step toward treatment approval.
Currently, only around 450 cases are known worldwide, but as genetic testing improves, more families will receive the diagnosis. “We want to make sure they’re met with answers — not despair,” Vikki said.
Carrying on a Tradition of Support
This year’s match follows the success of 2024’s fundraiser at the same venue, which saw EastEnders’ Danny Dyer, football freestyler Jeremy Lynch, and other celebrities raise money for the Ollie Young Foundation. That charity was founded in memory of a young football fan who tragically died of an incurable brain tumour the day before his sixth birthday.
With Jake Wood and his fellow stars taking to the field once more, organisers are hoping to raise even more awareness — and funding — for families like Laike’s.