Harley's parents will make half-time plea to Leicester City fans

A mother and father are to make a personal appeal to thousands of football fans to help the charity they set up in memory of their eight-year-old son.

Katherine and Jamie Staples are to appear on the pitch at the King Power Stadium at half-time during Leicester City's game against Blackpool tomorrow.

The pair will urge fans to vote to help the Harley Staples Cancer Trust win a £250,000 house in a national competition.

Harley died in November 2009 after battling a rare form of leukaemia, and the couple, who live in Blaby, set up the charity to help other poorly youngsters in his memory.

Katherine said: "We think we are in with a realistic shot of winning this house, but we need as much support as we can get.

"I had the idea of appealing to all the fans and gave the club a call. They could not have been more welcoming or helpful."

Katherine said she and husband Jamie were nervous about appearing in front of so many people in the stadium.

She said: "We are lucky because Alan Birchenall will be there with us to guide us along.

"It would be just fabulous if supporters from both clubs listened to us and voted for us."

Katherine and Jamie are aiming to raise £500,000 to build Harley's House – a holiday home in Leicestershire to give young cancer sufferers time away from hospitals and treatment.

They have already raised £250,000, so winning the house, which they have said they would probably sell, would double that and get them to their target.

Leicester City ambassador Alan Birchenall said: "Letting this couple come on to the pitch and make an appeal to the fans is the least we can do at the club.

"Harley was a smashing lad and what they are trying to do is wonderful.

"It would be a fitting tribute to him and a great facility for young cancer sufferers in Leicestershire."

The club is to carry details of how to vote in the programme for Saturday's game.

The competition, run by Persimmon Homes, will see one of 24 shortlisted charities win a £250,000 home in Andover, Hampshire.

The Harley Staples Cancer Trust has already benefited from making the final, as all 24 charities will receive a cash donation of £6,000.

The overall winner, which will be decided by an online public vote, will be announced at a lunch at Kensington Roof Gardens, in London, on September 27. Voting is open until September 20.

Katherine said: "People can vote every day for us and that's what we need. People can also vote on their phone and on their work PC and home laptop on the same day, which gives us more votes."

To vote for the Harley Staples Cancer Trust, visit:

www.persimmonhomes.com/40

Campaigners fighting to save children's heart surgery at Glenfield Hospital are also due to make an appeal to Leicester City fans for their help during Saturday's match.

They will ask them to sign an online petition against the decision to stop children's heart surgery at the hospital and shift treatment to Birmingham.

If 100,000 people put their name to the petition, the matter could be debated in Parliament.

To add your signature, visit:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk