Swimming the Channel for Son and Beating Blood Cancer

mardi 1 juillet 2014

Good Afternoon BBS!! My name is Simon and ALA Rick Mayall this may be my first and only post. I love reading all the polls etc but can't compete with the class of the Likes of Brummie Allen and Godstone Eagle.



In 2004 our Son Anthony Forzani died aged 10. This July would be his 21st Birthday and 30 years since my Father's Tony Death in 1984 from a Lymphoma. We are looking to celebrate Anthony's life as well as raise awareness of issues that still occur today to families like us. Anthony had Leukaemia for over four years spending most of this time without moaning or fuss in the Royal Marsden, Sutton. Unfortunately the traditional treatment failed so he had to undergo experimental medication which made him very ill and had no effect. Luckily he had four perfect donor matches but all refused to be his donor for various reasons, it then took the Anthony Nolan trust almost a year to persuade the eventual donor who was a 50-75% match. This only happened because they were offered to be one of the first stem cell donors in the country which is less painful than the traditional bone marrow route. Unfortunately the match was not good enough and his little body could not take anymore treatment so we had to accept a terminal diagnosis as we couldn't see him suffer anymore. He died the day after we beat Sunderland in 2004 to reach the play off finals. He was a season ticket holder with me.



The Club were always amazing with him, they interviewed him in the Palace programme, he was a Mascot and Walked onto the Pitch with Simon Roger. Anthony was supposed to meet Geoff Thomas as both had Leukaemia at the same time but unfortunately both were too ill to meet. He also has a brick outside the ground and had his ashes scattered on the Pitch. Thanks Mr Jordan for this. :lux:



We set up this challenge to Raise awareness of the plight of families like ourselves through Geoff Thomas's charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma research and increase the number of people who sign up to the Anthony Nola register. Over 1700 people require a donor outside of their family with hundreds failing every year to find a match.



We want people to realise that ignorance is killing those who could be saved as he should be here today sitting in the Arthur with me and swimming instead of me. I will be swimming 32KM myself under the official channel swim rules with my wife, Mother and two children Nia and Luca helping by swimming with me and doing various fundraising through the day. I have been swimming and training around four hours everyday for over a year for this event but every day has been worth it if we can stop at least one child from dying. We are so proud of him, he gives us joy even 10 years after his death as he touched so many peoples lives.



We are asking people on the 11th Instead of having a takeaway lunch or fancy coffee, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan register or donate the money you would of spent to our cause. Thank you for reading this.



My just Giving page is Simon Forzani, please state BBS against your name so I can thank you to you.




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