CHATS DEDICATE MATCHES TO CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Chatham Town will dedicate their next Men’s and Women’s home fixtures to raising awareness and crucial funds for Children with Cancer UK.

This is an especially significant cause to the Chatham family, with the brother of Chatham Town Women’s defender, Lenny Priest, currently undergoing treatment for Leukaemia.

In 2021, Theo was 3 years and 11 months old when the Priest family received the devastating diagnosis, and he has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment ever since.

Children with Cancer UK, are the leading charity in fighting cancer in children.  Cancer treatments often only differ from adult treatment in terms of dose size, which can result in lifelong side effects for the children who receive these drugs.  Children with Cancer UK fund crucial research into lifesaving, kinder treatment for children like Theo.

The charity goes further than funding research, they also offer support to families such as Lenny and Theo’s and have supported them throughout the treatment.

Theo is now 6-years-old and has had chemotherapy every single day for over 2 years. Fortunately, he is doing very well and attends most of Chatham Town Women’s matches as Lenny’s number fan! He will finish treatment in September 2024.

Our women’s fixture on 17 September against Portsmouth FC, and the men’s fixture against another coastal outfit, Lewes FC on 23 September, will see:

• Gate money made from ticket sales on 17 Sep being donated to Children with Cancer UK
• Bucket collections around the ground
• Half-time penalty shoot-out with Theo and first team players
• Players wearing dedicated warm-up tops

It’s important to acknowledge that cancer can affect every family. Please educate yourself and loved ones on the signs and symptoms of childhood cancers. Early diagnosis can save lives.

Look out for:

• Unexplained lump(s) or swelling on the body
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Frequent infections or flu-like symptoms
• Unexplained bleeding such as recurrent nose bleeds or a cut that doesn’t stop bleeding easily
• Recurrent or unexplained fevers/high temperature
• Drenching night sweats
• Feeling shortness of breath
• Bruising easily or unexplained bruises on the body

See your child’s doctor if they have any of these symptoms. For more information or advice, visit the Children with Cancer UK website, HERE.

You can donate online today to help Children with Cancer UK, HERE.