Former Ipswich, Sunderland and Bristol Rovers striker Marcus Stewart said he feels responsibility to "keep banging the drum" to raise awareness of motor neurone disease (MND).
A charity match is being held at Rovers' Memorial Stadium on 13 May in Stewart's name.
Former players including Manchester United's Paul Scholes and Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott are due to take part.
"These players are coming here for the right reasons - they're not coming here to up their profile they're coming here to have a laugh, they're coming here to see old team-mates, but the main thing is they're coming to help raise money for motor neurone disease, it's that simple," Stewart told BBC Points West.