A reporter is holding a charity football match in honour of his baby son before he undergoes treatment in hospital.

Arron Evans, who works for North Wales daily The Leader, is organising the game to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

It comes after Arron’s son Ffredi, born in April, was diagnosed with Hirschsprungs – a rare congenital disease that affects around 200 babies and children a year in the UK.

Ffredi will have surgery at Alder Hey Hospital, in Liverpool, to repair a defect in his bowel caused by the condition.

Arron, his wife Georgina and their son Ffredi

In a first-person piece for The Leader, Arron wrote: “We are certain that he will be in the most fantastic hands possible.

“While staying at Alder Hey, we couldn’t be more grateful for the care we have so far received from the incredible teams that work there – from the doctors who took their time to explain every step to us to the nurses who took care of Ffredi and us from day one to eight at every hour of the day, the additional funds that subsidised our meals so we could eat, and the infant feeding team who supported [wife] Georgina, among others.

“That’s why I’m raising money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity by hosting a charity football match at Llangoed Football Club on Sunday 28 July, with a 2pm kick-off.

“That will feature a mixture of players I have had the pleasure of both playing alongside and coaching down the years before stepping away from the game last year.

“Some – including myself – haven’t played for a few seasons, others are still very much playing now, but I’m grateful to every single one of them for agreeing to take part, it should be a fantastic match .”