AROUND 400 people descended on Newport’s St George’s Park to watch a charity football match in aid of seriously ill HMP Isle of Wight prison officer Ben Rothwell on Sunday.

The match between teams representing HMP IW and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust raised £1,000 for Ben, with motor neurone disease (MND), and his family, together with over £1,200 raised through a donation website.

Isle of Wight County Press: Ben Rothwell with his son, Louie, centre, with the team captains and match officials before the charity match kicked off on Sunday afternoon.Ben Rothwell with his son, Louie, centre, with the team captains and match officials before the charity match kicked off on Sunday afternoon.

HMP IW won the match by a single goal, scored by fellow prison officer Brian Flawell, of East Cowes, who was recently recognised in this year’s New Year’s Honours List.

Ben, 46, was diagnosed with the condition last year.

Ben, his wife Charlotte, daughter Izzy and son Louie, had only just found their dream home, which required work.

Isle of Wight County Press: The crowd in the packed main stand at St George's Park for the charity match between HMP IW and IW NHS Trust on Sunday.The crowd in the packed main stand at St George's Park for the charity match between HMP IW and IW NHS Trust on Sunday.

As a family they were going to upgrade the property, but that has not been possible as a result of Ben’s illness.

With colleagues feeling helpless, friends Amanda and Gary Sandison came up with the idea to hold a fundraising event so everyone can help towards getting Ben’s home together as he and his family had planned.

Isle of Wight County Press: Action from the match between HMP IW and the IW NHS Trust, in aid of prison officer Ben Rothwell, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.Action from the match between HMP IW and the IW NHS Trust, in aid of prison officer Ben Rothwell, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Ben’s family wanted to use the match as a way of making people more aware of what MND can do to a person.

Sadly, Ben is no longer working, but he is receiving support from Mountbatten Hospice in Newport.

Isle of Wight County Press: Louie Rothwell, the son of MND sufferer Ben, a prison officer at HMP IW, having a kickabout on the St George's Park turf before the charity match on Sunday.Louie Rothwell, the son of MND sufferer Ben, a prison officer at HMP IW, having a kickabout on the St George's Park turf before the charity match on Sunday.

You can still make a donation via JustGiving at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paul-hemmett

Charlotte thanked everyone for coming along in force at St George's Park to support Sunday's event and for making donations to the cause.