To fully appreciate the nature of the gesture ill start by giving the backstory.. Since birth i have had bladder and kidney related issues which aside from having the cathetorise since the age of 5, (im now 30) has led to kidney failure. I have been on dialysis now for the best part of 12 months, which as you may know basically entails 3 visits to the hospital a week for 3 and a half hour sessions of dialysis. Luckily i have managed to fit this around work and being a season ticket holder with my dad, which i might have regretted at certain points this season!! Anyway, after my girlfriend and uncle were tested to donate a kidney, who were both matches but unable to donate for differing reasons i am stuck on the donor list and therefore dialysis. (not the end of the world) as i preach to anyone who asks, if your kidneys fail you get a machine, if your heart fails youve had it, so theres alot of people worse off than me!! Anyway, unbeknowing to me, my girlfriends step father (a blade for all his faults) has been in touch with someone at the club, who has arranged the following.. For the Preston game on saturday 25th january, i have been invited to do a ground tour, hopefully meet the players, and have my tickets upgraded to include a lunch in one of the executive lounges which includes my dad and girlfriend. Fair to say i am immensely grateful to firstly Shaun for reaching out to the club, and for the person he has dealt with at the club for arranging this!! I dont normally like to share my situation as like i say there alot of people alot worse of than me, but really wanted everyone to know about the fantastic gesture that the club have done for me!! Thank you!! Really looking forward to the Preston game now!! YOU REDS!!!
Brilliant stuff. Hope everything goes well. Oh and you won’t be disappointed with the tour. It’s a great tour. You get to meet the players as they come into the changing rooms. Get pics and autographs. My son has had 2 tours and been mascot a couple of times. The tour is nearly just as good as paying for mascot. You also get 1st sight on the days 1st team as shirts are ready for them when they get to their lockers.
Brilliant to hear this, but not unusual. I suspect it's the PA to the Chief Executive who sorts this out. Her name escapes me, but she is a credit to the club. This is what they did for one of my learners. https://www.dearne-coll.ac.uk/news/student-achieves-dream-of-meeting-barnsley-football-club/
Haha, i know exactly what you mean!!, my girlfriends step dad has told me the name of the gent who has sorted it and his name has vanished from my mind!!! No doubt ill wake up in the middle of the night and say his name.. which will no doubt cause strange looks from arr lass!! But suffice to say it is definitely a man... i think!! (If i wake up in the middle of the night saying a womans name that might be a whole different ball game!!)
We are both very lucky to support a club with a soul. Good luck, enjoy your day, I know it was life changing for my student, I kid you not!!