Written by Laura Wolfe | 26 September 2024
The Road3 team was honoured to create and manage #ALunchForJoe last week.
From an initial idea to do something to support, last week saw 140 guests from across the world of football and business gather to celebrate the inspirational former footballer, Joe Thompson, and raise money in his fight against cancer.
Joe is very much part of our Northwest Football family, and his journey has been one of resilience and hope. Joe’s life took an unexpected turn in 2013 when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After 6 months of chemotherapy, Joe seemed to have beaten his cancer and the battle seemed to be won, but life had other plans.
On Christmas Eve 2016, 3 years later, he faced the harsh reality of a relapse. Joe had to endure a stem cell transplant, where he spent 18 days in isolation, a period that tested his sanity but also showcased the strength of the human spirit. Devastatingly, earlier this year, Joe announced that his cancer had returned, spreading to his lungs. In the face of adversity, and in true Joe Thompson style, he been collaborating with oncologists and scientists, self-funding research to uncover the root cause of his recurring illness.
Joe and his family plan to fund a Wellness Centre to help patients like him to get the support they need. We wanted to help, so #ALunchForJoe was born.
Thanks to our friends at Hotel Football, Tongue Tied Management, Sterling Event Group Ltd, ER Event Photography and to Kyle Walker, James Cooper, Jill Scott MBE and Danny Webber for helping us to make things happen. Thanks also to everyone who came, who supported, who donated and who laughed and cried with us.
“Adversity comes in different ways and affects people differently. But love and unity always win. We have been in darkness before and shall be guided by the light.” - Joe Thompson.
Joe – thank you for being our light – now it’s our turn to be yours.
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