Join the team for cancer charity
THE family of a sevenyear-old with leukaemia is urging people to take part in a football tournament in aid of cancer charity Latch, after seeing the work they do first-hand.
Young Brandon Maiden, from Brackla, Bridgend, has had 35 transfusions and more than 100 chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed on February 17 this year – and his family have been helped hugely by the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.
The Tremains Primary School pupil’s father Steve has seen first hand how families are helped by cancer charities – and he is encouraging people to support a football tournament being organised in aid of charity Latch, which is based at the children’s hospital.
The football tournament – being organised by Stephen’s friends Jon Paul Birch and Dan Burt – will take place at the Ely Valley Miners Sports Centre in Tonyrefail, Rhondda, on Sunday, December 4.
Steve said: “The diagnosis came as a massive shock. He’d been a bit pale in the time leading up to the diagnosis, but you don’t think it would be that serious. I’d actually taken him into the doctors about a verruca, and I asked about two bruises on him.
“He had quick blood tests and within two hours the doctor was on the phone saying I’d better get back down there because they thought it was leukaemia.
“He’s been treated at Noah’s Ark – and he’s been very ill with a few bugs which turned into Sepsis. He’s also had liver problems and E-Coli. He’s now through the worst of the treatment, but any little thing like a cold he’s back in hospital - he’s been in and out so many times.”
And Steve added he now truly appreciates the invaluable efforts of the children’s hospital and the charity Latch.
“I used to walk past charity buckets and things like that,” he said. “But now I’ve seen for myself what they do. The football tournament is raising money to help in any small way that it can. Brandon took part in the Noah’s Ark walk to raise money over £500 for the hospital, so this event has been set up to help the charity too.”
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Bravebrandon.
If you are interested in entering a team into the tournament – or a business or organisation willing to donate a raffle prize – call Dan on 07772 121844 or Jon Paul on 07720 216576.