TOP stars from TV soaps will show off their soccer skills this weekend to honour the memory of a tragic student who left a special legacy.
They will be taking part in `Superstar Sunday,' a Charity Match and Fun Day at The Oval in Bedworth in aid of the Gemma Louise Newman Memorial Fund.
The event promises to be a feast for followers of soaps like Eastenders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road, as well as reality TV shows Big Brother and Shipwrecked.
Stars and celebrities from all of them have agreed to play: "When they heard about Gemma they all wanted to help," said Kelly Newman, who is Gemma's sister and a trustee of the memorial fund.
A registered charity, the fund was set up after the shocking murder of the talented accountancy student almost five years ago.
The vivacious 21-year-old was stabbed to death in a secluded spot on the outskirts of Bedworth by her jealous boyfriend, who then set fire to her car and died in the blaze.
The memorial fund was created to help schools and discourage knife crime - and to keep her memory alive.
"Gemma loved education and we set up the fund to make special awards to schools in Nuneaton and Bedworth, but it has now spread to Coventry and Hinckley as well," said her sister Kelly, who also goes into schools to talk about knife crime.
She said: "We want to make children aware of the dangers. We don't want to turn on the telly and see another young person has been stabbed.
"We know how that family feels because we have been there. We want to stop any other mum and dad from answering the door to the police and being asked to identity their son or daughter's body.
"If we can save just one family from that ordeal then I will have done my job and Gemma will not have died in vain."
This Sunday's Charity Fun Day at The Oval, home of Bedworth United, will start at 10.30am and go on until 10.30pm with entertainment by London-based live band Live Gems in the Social Club on the Oval in the evening.
Bedworth United Under 16s will take on Bedworth United All Stars at 12 noon before the TV soap stars face local side Cricketers Arms, who play in pink which was Gemma's favourite colour, in a game that kicks off at 2.30pm.
Included in the soaps line-up are Nico Mallergro, Jay Khan, Anthony Quinlan and Danny Tennant from Hollyoaks, Gary Beadle and Mo George from Eastenders, Danny Miller, Luke Tittensor and Kelvin Fletcher from Emmerdale and Will Rush and Dean Smith from Waterloo Road.
"They all want to play, although the team will be subject to change due to filming contracts," said Kelly Newman.
Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for children and £12 for a family of two adults and two children: "We hope people come along and support us because we want Gemma to be as proud of us as we are of her and we can't let her be forgotten," said Kelly.
Anyone who wants further information can telephone 07791 203 785.
