Archived News from August 2002
|
BRAVE CHELSEA'S BIG DAY OUT
|
 |
|
Saturday's match mascot was a very special little girl, whose story and that special smile puts all things football into a stark perspective. Chelsea Barsby's father Neil contacted SSA to see if we could help give her a special day at Field Mill, and thanks to all the staff at MTFC, she was centre of attention on Saturday, which included a film crew from Carlton TV who were present just to cover her story.
Chelsea has suffered from bilateral retinoblastoma (eye cancer) since the age of 1. She has undergone numerous treatment including chemotherapy, external beam radiotherapy, radio active plaques and laser treatment. She has unfortunately had to have one eye removed after several attempts to save it, and has lost 95% vision in her remaining eye. Her recent treatment last Thursday was to remove a cateract and the lens of her eye. The family were told that she may have a new tumour coming which will require laser treatment very soon. Chelsea starts mainstream school (Mapplewells Primary School) in September and she requires lots of specialist equipment to enable her to get the same chance to learn and play as any other child. Neil and his family are helping to raise money to help her to obtain a talking computer for the blind, TV and video, her own blackboard, text books and reading books and PE equipment. Chelsea is extra sensitive to bright light now she has had her lens removed and will require a number of blinds at the windows to block the light out. Chelsea is pictured with Stags striker Danny Bacon prior to Saturdays match, at which kind hearted Stags and Argyle fans raised almost £1,000 for a children's eye cancer charity. Amongst other fund raising activities has been a 5-a-side tournament arranged through the Stagsnet Message Board by fans from a wide variety of Stags Supporters groups. If you think you can help Chelsea or other children with this illness then please get in touch with Chelsea's father Neil through us at Stagsnet. Picture by kind courtesy of Dan Westwell, Images of Praise (http://www.stagspics.com) 
|
Latest | August 2002