Four snooker stars, including former world champions Kyren Wilson and Stuart Bingham, are raising money for a children’s cancer charity inspired by a young survivor, and will attempt a world record in the process. Joe O’Connor and Louis Heathcote will join them at an exhibition in Corby on October 10 in aid of Bemorefab.
Inspired by Florrie’s journey
Bemorefab was created after Florrie Bark was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at six years old. Chemotherapy was unsuccessful, so she needed a bone marrow transplant, though there was no guarantee it would save her life. Florrie had the transplant in 2002 at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, and it worked, but she has continued to battle illness and had a lung transplant this year.
Her dad Andy told The Mirror in August: ‘She’s doing so well, hitting all the milestones the doctors hope for. For the first time in years we’re actually able to think about the future.’ The charity states: ‘Our mission is to provide education, support, and awareness, ensuring that no child, family, or school has to navigate this journey alone.’
Wilson’s personal connection
Kettering’s Wilson is close with the Bark family and is an ambassador for Bemorefab, saying Florrie is an inspiration to him on a daily basis. He said: ‘I’m so proud to be associated with Florence her wonderful family and the awesome Bemorefab cancer charity! Day in day out Florence inspires many of us taking on her daily life challenges with a smile and bundles of character, this exhibition will be the 3rd one we’ve hosted and we believe this will be the best one yet! All proceeds go to the Bemorefab children’s cancer charity let’s raise as much money as possible and have a great night along the way!’
Wilson partly credited a win at the World Championship this year to Florrie’s granddad being in the front row for his match at the Crucible. ‘There was a gentleman in the front row called John, whose granddaughter is Florence,’ he explained after his come-from-behind win over Stan Moody in April. ‘We are ambassadors for their charity – myself, my brother Taylor and wife Sophie – for the Bemorefab Children’s Cancer Charity. It’s an amazing charity. She’s an absolute inspiration. We feel very close to them. He sat in the front row, cheering me on this whole time, and I’m just thinking: “What am I moaning about? It’s a cue, it’s a game of snooker.” They have genuine life problems and they just gave me that little bit of fight. So it was nice to have them in the front row. It just gave me a lift. It was nice to have that little push. I love following her journey because she’s an absolute inspiration and it definitely puts life into perspective.’
World record attempt in Corby
On the evening in Corby there will be exhibition frames, Q&A sessions and the four players will attempt to set a world record for scotch quadruple. The four pros will take alternate shots, looking to build as high a break as possible.
