Riley Family Appeal
Donation protected
After nearly a year of treatment for pain to his right hip, in July last year Matt Riley was diagnosed with a blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. The percentage of people diagnosed with this particular type of cancer make up only 2% of those diagnosed with cancer each year. It's part of the Leukemia family of blood cancers and is most common in over 70 year olds, who are usually diagnosed after compression fractures of the spine or renal failure.
Although Matt is unlucky to be diagnosed younger, which is becoming more common, he is also lucky to be diagnosed before any of these symptoms occurred.
Multiple Myeloma interrupts the normal operation of the blood plasma and cells in the bone marrow, which causes holes in the bones that do not repair themselves. It can also cause severe anemia and renal problems. It is incurable, but treatable.
Treatment for multiple myeloma takes many forms - mostly comprising at least one type of chemotherapy drug, radiation therapy and sometimes Stem Cell Transplants. So far Matt has undergone all three of these treatment types and whilst his results have been positive as has his attitude to beating this disease, he has been unable to work since the diagnosis (July 2018).
As we can all appreciate, in undertaking treatment for this terrible disease, it has created pressures and challenges on maintaining normal life routines and practices. Matt, Carol and the kids have done a wonderful job of keeping an as normal a home environment as possible, none the less there are areas in which they could do with assistance.
As a football community through our Welfare Hub, we are putting together a support package to assist the Riley family to maintain some semblance of normality.
The Football club will be coordinating a Working Bee to assist with the household upkeep and address some immediate maintenance needs, as well as looking to provide ongoing financial support throughout this challenging time, i.e Prepared meals service, household essentials etc.
We therefore encourage our Norwood Sporting community to provide financial contribution in any form possible to aide these support initiatives.
By way of timing, it is our intent to commence the support from the end of March, so your timely assistance would be appreciated.
For any questions or queries please feel free to contact :
Brad O'Brien
NJFC President
0488 998858
[email redacted]
Although Matt is unlucky to be diagnosed younger, which is becoming more common, he is also lucky to be diagnosed before any of these symptoms occurred.
Multiple Myeloma interrupts the normal operation of the blood plasma and cells in the bone marrow, which causes holes in the bones that do not repair themselves. It can also cause severe anemia and renal problems. It is incurable, but treatable.
Treatment for multiple myeloma takes many forms - mostly comprising at least one type of chemotherapy drug, radiation therapy and sometimes Stem Cell Transplants. So far Matt has undergone all three of these treatment types and whilst his results have been positive as has his attitude to beating this disease, he has been unable to work since the diagnosis (July 2018).
As we can all appreciate, in undertaking treatment for this terrible disease, it has created pressures and challenges on maintaining normal life routines and practices. Matt, Carol and the kids have done a wonderful job of keeping an as normal a home environment as possible, none the less there are areas in which they could do with assistance.
As a football community through our Welfare Hub, we are putting together a support package to assist the Riley family to maintain some semblance of normality.
The Football club will be coordinating a Working Bee to assist with the household upkeep and address some immediate maintenance needs, as well as looking to provide ongoing financial support throughout this challenging time, i.e Prepared meals service, household essentials etc.
We therefore encourage our Norwood Sporting community to provide financial contribution in any form possible to aide these support initiatives.
By way of timing, it is our intent to commence the support from the end of March, so your timely assistance would be appreciated.
For any questions or queries please feel free to contact :
Brad O'Brien
NJFC President
0488 998858
[email redacted]
Organizer
Norwood Junior Football Club
Organizer
Heathwood VIC
