York City fan begins competition in memory of late daughter

Following the tragic death of York resident Rachael Harris in April 2021 after suffering with a brain tumour, parents Sally and Andy Harris will be running a competition predicting the results of the upcoming European Championships, with the entry fee being donated towards Brain Tumour Research.

You can find the opportunity to entry online, here.

Rachael, an RSPCA animal carer, was 30 when she received her devastating diagnosis with an initial surgery revealing that she was suffering with a grade 2 astrocytoma, which is a form of cancer within the brain.

Alan Harris, father to Rachael, is playing a key part in hosting the competition, telling the Press: “Where possible I like to offer something back in return for supporting the charity. 

“I have done football prediction competitions in the past and they seemed popular.

“Vanarama had kindly previously supported the charity so when they said they would support it again the idea of a York themed competition started. 

“Dennis Smith, the 83/84 squad and 73/74 squad all signed the prints given to them and we have about 10 of each of them available when the competition ends.

“Unfortunately at the moment we have more prizes than entries and not long before the tournament starts.” 

Alan himself is also a York City supporter: "I have supported the side since the 70/71 season and one of my first games was the 3-3 game against Southampton in the cup.

“I was a season ticket holder from 1973 until a few years ago when partly due to my daughters illness I lost interest in most things including the football.

Rachael Harris, who sadly passed away in April 2021. (Image: Submitted)

“My son was the mascot for the game when David Longhurst sadly collapsed and died during the game. I had previously won a ball signed by the Leeds and Sunderland players and I auctioned it to raise money for the David Longhurst stand.

“I’m not currently a season ticket holder but still go to a few games each season.”

Rachael would undergo 30 sessions of radiotherapy at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull, followed by a course of PCV chemotherapy.

Post-chemotherapy, Rachael was able to return to work and enjoy her life for the next couple of years, before her health upsettingly worsened in December 2020, when she began suffering from debilitating headaches.

Another scan in March showed that her tumour had grown aggressively, causing further seizures, before Rachael sadly passed away.

Rachael’s mother, Sally, has since taken part in Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day with Flowers during British Flowers Week, taking place at Sally’s local pub the Trafalgar Bay, helping to raise valuable funds for Brain Tumour Research.

An array of York City related prizes are off on offer, with 20 prizes available to win, with entrees having to predict the scoreline of the 36 matches within the group stage of the Euro’s.

Entry fee is available at just £3, or at £5 for two entries, with entry and daily updates posted to the dedicated website.

Should you win, you will have the chance to receive a pair of York City season tickets, courtesy of Vanarama, a signed shirt which has kindly been donated by the football club, York City merchandise which has been developed by a group of people with autism, six different City pin badges donated kindly by Colin at YCFC pin badges, an item, still to be confirmed, donated kindly by the Minster Merch,

More historical York prizes include a print of Bootham Crescent signed by City legend Denis Smith, a print of Bootham Crescent signed by the 1983/84 York squad, a print of Bootham Crescent signed by the 1973/74 squad, a History of York City Part One, as written by club historian Paul Bowser and a York City vs Arsenal Ceefax mug donated by clubmerchandise.org and two York City mugs donated by Rachael’s dog squad, a charity who sell mugs to help raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Non-York City related prizes include a Gift Pay shopping voucher worth £50, kindly donated by Octopus Energy, a gift box of candles from Flamingo Candles, four different England t-shirts kindly donated by Sillytees.co.uk, a print sized at either A3 or A4 of the winners choice from Matthewjiwood.com, which includes stadium designs of over 100 clubs and Subbuteo XI designs celebrating title-winning teams, a print of the England Lionesses by Nick at Footy Draws, a new Moving on Up red shirt, kindly donated by Rock ‘n’ Roll football shirts, and a BBC Sports report paperbook copy donated kindly by Pat Murphy.

The closing date for entry will be on Thursday, June 13, with new entries still welcome.