Sunday Mirror

Getting shirty for a deserving pal

- Running with terminal cancer By Kevin Webber justgiving.com/fundraisin­g/kevin-webber8

You may have heard the concept “the six degrees of separation” which suggests that you are only ever six or fewer connection­s away from anyone. This week I used only four degrees to achieve something I think is well deserved.

Over the last six years, I have got to know many good people who work for Prostate Cancer UK with many of them going above and beyond on a regular basis. One who stands out to me though is a guy called Gary who works all the hours he can and effectivel­y took me under his wing when I was in a very dark place just after I was diagnosed.

Since that time Gary has frequently helped give me a sense of worth in life and kept me feeling positive when it would have been so easy to be in the pit of despair.

For some time I have been thinking what I could do in return for Gary and, while it would be easy to buy him a bottle of wine or chocolates, I had been racking my brains as to what he would really appreciate.

That’s where the four degrees came in. Gary, for his sins, is an avid West Ham

United fan and that got me thinking. A friend of mine,

Ian, knows West Ham and

England’s Declan Rice. I floated an idea past Ian who then bought a team shirt so that when he next saw Declan he could get him to sign it for Gary so that I could send it on to him.

Gary will be opening a package today with no idea what is in it, but I hope he realises what he has meant to me and why he was worth the effort and favours to get him the shirt. Furthermor­e, I believe that all four of us involved will feel positive from doing something good – what goes around comes around and all that.

Perhaps you too could think about who you may know who knows someone who could make a positive difference to someone who you think deserves it. If you do, what’s stopping you from asking?

Until next week

Kevin

‘‘

Gary, for his sins, is an avid West Ham fan and that got me thinking

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 ??  ?? HAMMER TIME Declan Rice holding the shirt he signed for Gary
HAMMER TIME Declan Rice holding the shirt he signed for Gary

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