Devon is playing for the mother of all reasons
PETERSEN EARNING CASH FOR HIS DYING MUM’S STEM CELL TREATMENT
DANCING Devon Petersen had a spring in his step after earning enough prize money to sustain his dying mum’s stem cell treatment.
The African Warrior beat Steve West 4-2 to reach the last 16 at the William Hill PDC world championship, equalling his best run in the tournament five years ago, winning him a minimum of £35,000 and preserving his Tour card in 2019.
And Petersen, the bodypopping banker whose walk-on dance routine always gets the party started at Ally Pally, revealed his mother Lucille’s serious illness was inspiring him to go where no South African has ever gone before on the oche.
Today he meets Nathan Aspinall for a place in the quarter-finals and Petersen said: “My mum isn’t well – she is suffering from motor neurone disease back home in South Africa and I speak to her every night, sometimes twice a day.
“Being told your mother has only a few months to live changes everything and the way you view life.
“I wanted her to come over and see me play at the world championship, but we are trying to get some stem cell treatment in India sorted for her and she needs a new passport.
“Getting a UK visa is no problem, but the actual passport is difficult because in Nathan Aspinall v Devon Petersen, Benito van de Pas v Brendan Dolan, Ryan Joyce v James Wade. South Africa, everything doesn’t just stop for Christmas – it goes backwards.
“Even if I manage to reach the final on New Year’s Day, I don’t think she will be able to make it over here, but some things are more important than darts.
“Motor neurone disease can’t be cured, and I know my mum won’t be here forever, but at least we still have time to say everything we need to say and having a good run here makes life less complicated.
“It means we can continue stem cell therapy and make sure there is money available for her – each session of treatment costs more than £10,000.
“There isn’t any amount of money that can save her, but ultimately this should have been the year that broke me and sent me home packing and giving
Ryan Searle v Michael Smith, Jamie Lewis v Dave Chisnall, Rob Cross v Luke Humphries. up darts. When you are not broken, you carry on.
“That is the reason I am known as the African Warrior.”
The 32-year-old comes from Mitchells Plain, a crime-ridden suburb of Cape Town where temptation lurks on every street corner.
He is grateful that, with his mother’s support and the strong parental influence of his father George, he now carries the hopes of an entire continent at Alexandra Palace.
“Most of my friends at school were involved in gangsterism and drugs,” said Petersen.
“But my parents made me humble and kept me on the right track.
“Before I came over here and got my Tour card, I was a banking consultant. I gave up everything to join the PDC and give it a go at becoming world champion. You only have one life to live.”