Hi everyone and welcome to our Just Giving Page ‘Run for Dan’ in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Dan's Story - One of our Soccer20skills players, Dan Mattison was diagnosed in September 2014 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.  Being a teenager should be about enjoying every day with your mates and thinking about the future ahead.  The news was devastating to Dan and his family.  His treatment plan is 3 &  half years in total and comes in 5 phases.  Dan has been positive throughout his treatment, he’s keeping his chin up, reacting well and really appreciates the support he has received already from everyone to help him through this extremely tough journey.

Even if you don’t know Dan personally he’s part of our S20 community and like any other young lad he loves life, sport and his footie.  Dan’s ward is at the RVI, throughout his time he has been supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT).   The support they give the kids along with the Doctors and Nurses is top notch and let’s face it “It’s hard enough being a teenager, let alone having to cope with cancer”. 

S20 has supported the Teenage Cancer Trust over the last year and Anth and Claire from the Soccer20 Team are running in the Great North Run to raise funds for the TCT.   We know every penny makes a difference to the youngsters, whether it is a taxi home after treatment, a cinema night on the ward or help towards a Support Worker.  The support from the Hospital and TCT has been second to none for Dan and his family. 

This has been one hell of a journey for Dan and his family.  The TCT have been there throughout his treatment and continue to support him and his family.  

 

We are running in support of this fantastic charity, they help teenagers like Dan every day.  We’ve found the training tough, but nothing compared to what this lad has been through, he’s an amazing kid and we want you to give as little or as much as you can to support this very worthy cause. 

 

 

See a snapshot of Dan’s Journey:

Week 7 of Treatment Autumn 2014

The first 6 months of the treatment is the most difficult and involves a lot of intensive chemotherapy.  Dan is responding well to the intense treatment, moving into remission, and adjusting to anti sickness meds.  Bone marrow testing is being carried out this week.  A very long road ahead for him.

December 2014

Dan has responded really well to the first couple of phases and his prognosis is excellent as a result.  A Christmas hospital stay really floored him, but support from his family,  the TCT, friends and S20 Community gave Dan a nice boost and cheered him up after some really  tough weeks of treatment which made him very poorly at times.  He also had a visit from some players from Sunderland who visit the ward each year to chat to the kids and give out presents in the run up to Christmas.

 

 

Phase 3

Dan is doing really well his energy levels are good. He’s walking and desperate to be out running again.  He’s starting back to school a few hours per week, studying at home and still receiving treatment.

 

Phase 4

A really tough phase and it's taken a lot out of him over the last couple of months.  He's also suffered from side effects more in this phase. Thankfully they have subsided and recovery has been slow, but energy levels on the up.

 

May 2015

Dan started the maintenance phase of his treatment at the end of May. This is the final phase, but will go on for the next 2 and half years. It should be much less intensive than the treatment he's had so far and he should be able to get back a lot more normality.

 

Dan was invited to the NUFC v West Brom game, which was a huge boost at a crucial time for him. He watched the game from the press box and he met all the players, including Jonas Gutierrez who was keen to meet Dan having been through his own battle with cancer recently. Dan also had a long chat with Darren Fletcher who asked about his recovery and his football, and gave him some great motivation and advice for the future.

 

 

Summer 2015

He's already back to school full-time and is really happy to be back amongst his mates. He also managed to fit in a work-experience week in June which went really well.

 

In the last week of July, Dan was able to go on a 4-day sailing trip to Largs in Scotland, organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. He was part of a 6-man crew on a 40-foot yacht and they were responsible for everything on the boat including cooking & cleaning. Fortunately the weather was ok, and they managed to get in plenty of time on the water.

 

More recently Dan his, mum, dad and sister dropped into the last Soccer20 session before the summer and Dan loved meeting up with Anth and getting back on the pitch with the kids to have a bit of a kick about.  Hopefully he'll continue progressing and will be able to start regaining fitness shortly.

 

Dan’s treatment continues for another 2 and half years.  We wish him and his family all the very best for the future as he goes from strength to strength.