Bayside Hawks FC (2008's) Team Building Trip

My name is John and in June 2018 at 37 years old I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

That particular type of leukemia has a survival rate of around 20%.

I have 3 young boys (of which 2 play football for Bayside Hawks FC 2008's) who at the time of my diagnosis were 10, 8 and 6. The diagnosis was a complete shock to all my friends and family and the children took it particularly hard.

After a short time I became accepting of my diagnosis and became positively focused on getting better.

Following over 60 gruelling rounds of chemotherapy over a 6 month period which included 2 bouts of life threatening Sepsis I was categorised as being in full remission. As time progressed life began to feel normal again.

 

Unfortunately in October 2019 I relapsed and the leukemia returned. This time I was informed I'd require a stem cell transplant to have any chance at living a full life.

I found the second diagnosis much more difficult to deal with on a psychological level. I did however have great support from my friends and family, but none more so than from my wife Kim, and I can honestly say that if it wasn't for her the fight would've left me.

 

Prior to being able to get the stem cell transplant the leukemia had to be in remission. I was informed at my consultation that it was a tougher task to achieve this for a second time. Following more intense chemotherapy I was fortunate enough to have the leukemia back in remission.

 

After some complications finding a stem cell donor a young man from Germany signed up to the Anthony Nolan bone marrow/stem cell donor register. He was a 10/10 match. My stem cell transplant went ahead in April 2020 - just as the world locked down.

I was unable to have any visitors during my months stay in hospital. As I felt vulnerable already this is something I found extremely isolating. Following the transplant and my release from hospital I had to be isolated from the boys for 3 months. This was due to the fact that I effectively had no immune system and covid was rife. All the treatments and procedures paled into insignificance when compared to not being able to see my boys.

Thankfully the transplant was successful and despite all the medication I still have to take, the immune suppression and low red blood cell count, life is once again beginning to have an air of normality to it.

 

Prior to my diagnosis I was a keen runner. I'd notched up a marathon and several half marathons (as well as some shorter races) to my name.

I was told by my consultant before the stem cell transplant to forget the idea of running any half marathons in the future.

 

In the immediate aftermath of the stem cell transplant I struggled to readjust and accept that I could no longer do a lot of the things I could do previously. I couldn't work and lost myself a bit.

 

That's when I spoke to Robert (head coach at Bayside Hawks FC) about getting involved with the boys team. Robert was very supportive of my situation and welcomed me to the club with open arms - as did the rest of the coaches.

I attended the SFA coaching courses and got myself qualified to 1.3 level. The next step will be the UEFA C License in coaching, something I plan to start working towards in the near future.

Working with the boys at Bayside gave me purpose again. It gave me the focus I had been lacking but it also gave me the feeling of being part of something that was important.

The boys are a fantastic group and I can honestly say that I absolutely love each and every one of them. I get such a sense of achievement from working with them and there's no better feeling than the one I get when I watch the boys bouncing away on a Sunday morning after a win.

 

I'm now wanting to give something back to the boys so I'm arranging a pre season Team Building trip to Blackpool in July this year. We have some activities planned and have arranged to play a friendly match against local side Kirkham United 2008's who have been generous enough to host us.

 

I want to keep the cost down as much as possible for the boys so I'm going to be running the Strathearn marathon on Sunday the 12th June in a bid to raise enough money to cover all our transport and accommodation costs whilst away.

The consultant had told me to forget half marathons so by running the full marathon I'm still strictly following doctors orders!

 

If you can spare a few pounds to help get the Bayside Hawks boys to Blackpool I'd be most appreciative.
Please note that the total cost of the trip is around £3600 so if we surpass the target fundraising total all additional funds will be directed towards subsidising the activities and/or cost of the hotel for the boys.

 

Also, if you're not already on the Anthony Nolan bone marrow/stem cell donor's register then please consider signing up. There are thousands of people all over the world needing stem cells to give them a chance of a future and you could be the one to give someone that chance.

 

Thank you.