Heacham Cricket Club, in partnership with Heacham Charity Social Club, raised £350 for The Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Cancer Care and Treatment Fund.
The club surprised player Jim Parker with a charity game of retired players versus current players, as well as a raffle and food, after he was unable to play the last two games due to treatment.
Jim, pictured minutes before starting a 16-hour chemotherapy treatment, was touched by his teammates arranging the surprise charity match in his honour.
He said: “I was humbled by the event the team organised. It was wonderful – I was so surprised!”
Usually cheques are presented when patients have finished treatment; however Jim wanted to show the realities of cancer and asked to be pictured in a chemotherapy setting.
He said: “I would like to extend a special thank you to the staff on Shouldham Ward for looking after me so well. I would also like to thank the staff in the treatment room who have looked after me for the first three weeks of chemotherapy. They have been fantastic.”
Dawn Slack, Cancer Services Matron, thanks Jim and the cricket club for the donation. She said: “Thank you so much for this wonderful donation. We are extremely grateful to the cricket club for the efforts in organising this event and supporting the lovely Jim.
“The money from this donation will be used towards items on our ward ‘wish list’. In the past, items have included chemotherapy chairs, specialist equipment and contributions towards renovating the gardens outside the ward.
“This time, we would like to purchase a reclining chair which can be used by our less mobile patients in the shower. A simple thing like a shower brings a lot of comfort to our patients and a sense of normality during quite a disorientating time.”
—ENDS—
Pictured (from left to right): Katherine Spoelma, Ward Sister, Mel Catton, HCA, Jim Parker, Deepa James, Staff Nurse and Jeena Rasan, Staff Nurse.
To download the press release and photo, click here.
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