Just a little over a week ago I was feeling all sorts of anxiety. A mixture of emotions, nervous but extremely excited too. Those feelings had been building up over the week as I was doing something I'd never done before, organizing a bucket collection. But you have anxiety, how did you possibly do that? It wasn't easy but it was totally worth it. It wasn't for me, it was for a family in need.
I try my best to go to football every home game to watch Doncaster Rovers (anxiety will get used to it at some point and realize it isn't a scary situation). One of the club's players, Matty Blair has a brother who last week sadly passed away. My thoughts and love goes out to all of his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. Matty's brother Ross was terminally ill and had been staying in Myton Hospice, Warwick.
Ross's wife Holly decided to create a JustGiving page to give back to the hospice who were providing such wonderful care to both Ross and herself. As I write this now Holly's JustGiving page is at £10,531 which is absolutely incredible! Amazing work Holly. If you can donate and wish to donate please do, you never know when you or a loved one could be in a similar situation. You can find Holly's JustGiving page by clicking here.
I can remember the first time I met Matty at the beginning of this year, I was too scared to approach him which is silly really because he is just a person like you and me. Over the year Matty has played a huge part in my experience with the club. Matty no longer feels like a player of the club who I watch run around the pitch, he feels like a friend. I feel like a friendship has formed. Does that sound weird?...Yeah, it probably does sound a little weird.
After finding out about Holly's JustGiving page I just had to do something for them as a family. Something that would show them our love and support as a club. Something that we could do to help outside of the internet. So the bucket collection was my only thought. A lot of people don't seem to like donating online and some people will just throw in some pennies into a bucket as they go past which is effective as pennies make pounds.
In just over a week the bucket collection was happening.
I approached the hospice first to make sure that it would be something we could do despite the distance and it wasn't a problem. They were more than happy that we were willing to help them.
Next was to contact Doncaster Rovers and they were definitely behind the idea, even inviting me to be part of a video with Matty to let the supporters know all about the situation and bucket collection. Thankfully I could just stand there, say nothing but still be a part of it. If you know me personally you will know it is very rare I have nothing to say but this time I decided to let Matty do all the talking, sorry Matty!
Tweets for helpers, videos and articles (on both our club site and Sheffield Wednesdays site) all out, all that was left to do was stand/walk with buckets and collect some money for a well deserved charity.
In the bucket collection we raised £798.88!
I don't think I can actually say thank you enough to everyone who made this bucket collection possible and everyone who donated. Thank you to those who have donated to Holly's JustGiving page too.
I thought I'd end this post with a few lessons I've learnt from this experience...
1. Life can be taken away too soon, make the most of every day.
2. Tell those around you how much you love them and how much they mean to you.
3. Appreciate the little things because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things.
4. You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it despite your situation, always believe in yourself.
5. The power and support on social media is incredible.
6. Surround yourself with good people. The world is full of them, you just have to find them.