County-mad Zach picked to lead team out
ASTOCKPORT County-mad youngster whose serious illness has left him with the kidneys of an 80-year-old will lead his favourite team onto the pitch.
Zach Tierney, six, from Offerton, will be the Hatters’ mascot for Saturday’s match against Bradford Park Avenue at Edgeley Park.
He was diagnosed with the chronic kidney disease renal dysplasia in February after his constant thirst for drinking gallons of water led his family to take him to medics.
It means he will need a transplant or dialysis before he reaches puberty as without either his condition will become life threatening.
But Zach is also a keen Stockport County fan and, as well as being mascot the club and its Community Foundation, has also organised bucket collections at the game for Kidney Research UK.
Dad David, 38, said: “Zach is always in a football kit, he always wants to play football and watch football.
“He loves coming down to Edgeley Park and sitting in the Cheadle End watching County. He loves all the singing and the chance of getting really close to the players.
“Kidney Research UK is close to our hearts and this collection will be part of our ongoing fundraising for the charity, raising awareness and helping towards funding for research.”
Zach, who also lives with mum Michelle, 36, sisters Aoife and Niamh and brother Samuel, can currently still lead a relatively normal life.
But once his kidney function drops below 20 per cent that is when he will be unable to do things other youngsters take for granted.
Currently it is 25 per cent, which is what an 80-year-old would have, and even now he is on a strict diet with very limited protein, dairy and fat intake.
But Zach can still also play football and appears for Spurley Hey FC.
Michelle said: “I’m a nurse so I had a feeling something was not quite right with him. He was thirsty all the time.
“We would find him in the bathroom in the middle of the night drinking from the tap. It is a scary disease as you don’t know anything about it before it’s too late.
“But he’s a cheeky little boy who is very brave and resilient and interested in what is going to happen to him in future.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can visit www.facebook. com/zachskidneysuppourt/.