To know Peter Duckworth is to love him.

He is caring, charismatic, fun and outgoing in all that he does.

I met Peter when I was only 5 years old and he has always made such an impression on me. He is so good with kids, so athletic and brings so much energy to a room. Simply put, Pete is an awesome dude.

I recently received the call that no one wants to get from my sister Jayne. "Pete has cancer," she said. The weight of those words hung in the air. It seemed almost impossible that someone so strong and so much larger-than-life could possibly be facing something so serious. Cancer? Why do these things always seem to happen to the best people?

Unfortunately, as many learn, cancer is indiscriminate and even the most wonderful people we know can end up on the receiving end of that diagnosis. Peter is facing a battle with prostate cancer. He has is determined to fight hard. He has always been such a competitive person- I don't think anyone is surprised that he would take on cancer with the same force that he takes on football (soccer). He is here to win this.

Digesting the news my thoughts have turned from sadness to giving support. To get a cancer diagnosis in America is to instantly also take on a financial burden that few are prepared for. Medical bills, travel expenses and the price of drugs are astronomical and access to good healthcare is declining. Healthcare costs are going up at exactly the wrong time for Pete and his family.

To face cancer is one thing. To worry about paying the medical bills for that fight adds another massive layer of stress. I want to band together to show Peter how much we love him and to take away as much of that financial hardship as we can so that he and his wife Jayne and his two beautiful girls, Coral and Saffron, can focus on his health and not his bills.

Pete has impacted communities from England to Florida and back again, especially when it comes to football! He has left his mark on football clubs in two countries, coached in England and America and is loved by so many he has met along the way. From the Mellor Football Club in England to Manchester United and their Youth Academy Program (even training THE Marcus Rashford from an early age), then on to Florida as he directed the Tsunami Soccer Club and served as host of the EPL Summer Soccer Camps in Melbourne Beach. He is even in a band! He has family around the world and so many friends and colleagues who love him dearly. I know that when this community comes together we can make an enormous difference for him as he gets treatment.

Pete, we hope that this campaign helps to ease the impact of your diagnosis so that all of your energy can go into fighting for a win against cancer. If anyone has the spirit and the drive to face it, it's you. We love you and we are all on the sidelines rooting you on, as always.

Tamsin

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