On the 12th May 2013 we are having an away day and visiting the Home of Kidderminster Harriers to play a side of celebrities and former players put together by Steve Burr. Our side should be the same as played the Albion old boys.
This game will be to raise funds for us and two other charities close to our hearts Cords 4 Life UK and the Birmingham Childrens Hospital. So please come a long and support three great causes.
On Sunday the 28th April 2013 the BTC Allstars will be playing an epic game of football against the WBA Old Boys team at The Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton.
The Albion squad is listed on our events list, our squad includes Jody Craddock (Parton), Ayden Callaghan (Ambassador), Matt Murray (Englands No 1 Keeper) and a host of other TV personalities (see poster below for details)
Kick off is 12 o’clock Ticket prices are £4 adult and £1 child (under 12) and are available here
Please feel free to download the poster (below) and put it up in your local shop/leisure centre/school
BTC v WBA poster
We have the greatest of pleasures in announcing that we will be donating £1000 today to Compton Hospice for the great work they do for cancer patients.
Popping down the local turns into 62.5 mile challenge for Black Country friends
A quick trip down the pub has turned into the challenge of a lifetime for four novice runners from the Black Country.
Dave Bytheway, Ian Bytheway, Nick Cockburn and Nigel Bolton are swapping their day jobs as an accountant, Financial Director, sprinkler fitter and firefighter to run 62.5 miles – in 15 hours – as part of the grueling London to Brighton challenge on May 25th.
The intrepid quartet – nicknamed ‘Team Running on Empty’ – are looking to pound the streets, hills and pathways of South East England to raise £5000 for Balls to Cancer, a local charity established by Mark Bates to fund male cancer awareness, education and research.
As part of their 500-mile strong training programme they will complete two ultra races, 4 marathons, 2 half marathons and the infamous Groundhog Marathon – 105 laps of Telford Athletic Stadium.
Dave Bytheway, Director at Bytheway Accountants and the inspiration behind the challenge, explained: “We were having a few beers down the pub when somebody threw down the gauntlet of running 62.5 miles.
“None of us are affiliated to a running club and, although we were all decent footballers in our day, I think it’s safe to say we’d hung up our boots for the real ale. Still a challenge is a challenge and we just needed something to get behind to make it all worthwhile.”
He went on to add: “I’d heard about the excellent work Mark and his family were doing in setting up Balls to Cancer and I liked the fact it was helping to support men with cancer. We had another chat down the pub and the rest is history.”
‘Team Running on Empty’ has received overwhelming support from the local business community, with Conveyor Units and Bytheway Accountants pledging their support as main sponsors.
Jacks Café and Bar, located in Frederick Street in Wolverhampton, is also lending its backing, hosting regular meetings and a major fundraising event on March 22nd..
More than 200 people have already snapped up tickets for the charity night, which will see the King (Les Rivers) go head-to-head with Shoddy Woddy, a mega raffle and an all-star auction featuring memorabilia from Wolves’ Wayne Hennessey, Talksport and many other celebrities and sports stars.
Nick Cockburn concluded: “£5,000 is our target and we are already well on the way to achieving that. I think that will make us one of Balls to Cancer’s biggest one off fundraisers!
“I’m sure by the 60th mile, we’ll all be wishing we hadn’t escaped for that cheeky pint down the pub.”
To make a donation, please visit www.justgiving.com/londonbrighton2013 or text Daft62 £5 to 70070.
If you would like to see the guys run 13 miles in their least favourite football shirt (Nick: Spurs, Dave: Wolves, Ian: Blues and Nigel: West Bromwich Albion) then contact Nick to place your special donation on 07792 383358
The Brilliant and very kind Artist Horace Panter (our ambassador) has very kindly continued his Cassette artwork series with a special Never Mind the Bollocks one, specifically for our charity. We will be auctioning the original artwork very soon and the link will appear here.
It is with the greatest of pleasure we thank Horace and Clare for the help and support
We have the following completed applications, If you want to jump I need your applications by Friday 1st February at the latest also those over 40 need to send their completed medical forms at the same time.
Also remember everyone that is jumping and any spectators MUST have their Passport /ID with them.
Scott Hallard *
Dayle Hallard
Matt Kelly
Jimmy Halton
Lee Glaze
Emma Wright
Claire Boddison
Sally Molineux *
Hannah Moore
Lori Hunter
Adriano Di Maria
Matt Smith
* Need Medical form
Making Choices for my Wife’s Cancer Care
My wife is a cancer survivor. Often, she mentions how challenging it must have been for me to manage the situation as her husband and caregiver. Being a caregiver is a difficult task, and I hope that by sharing my story, I can help other people currently struggling through a similar, difficult journey through cancer.
Just a little over three months before my wife was diagnosed with cancer, we had our first baby, a beautiful little girl that we named Lily. We were thrilled and overjoyed to be new parents, but less than four months later the diagnosis was made and our world fell apart. My wife had mesothelioma. The joy, hope and dreams were ripped from us. But, seconds after the diagnosis, the physicians began discussing medical options and the reality was clear – I had to help my wife make difficult choices regarding her care from this point forward.
Anger and absolute fear raged in me for days. But, as time went by, I learned to accept the situation and find the strength needed to face these challenges successfully. This strength was driven from the love I have for my family. I managed to mask my fears and be the source of hope and positive energy that we needed during this time.
As the days went by, my list of tasks became overwhelming. I suddenly had so many new responsibilities, and I struggled to keep up with everything that I was expected to do. I had to continue to work my full time job, care for Lily and my wife, our pets, our home, arrange for medical care and doctors appointments, travel arrangements – the list went on and on. It was during those first days that I learned to manage priorities and take care of the important things first. Not only did I learn to prioritize, but I finally opened up to the assistance of family and friends; these special individuals made this time manageable. After I learned to accept their help, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I still felt overwhelmed on some days, but with the generous support of our family and friends we managed to make it through day by day.
There was one particular hardship that was especially difficult for me to endure. For two months, I was separated from my wife and daughter, and was able to see them only one time. My wife and I traveled to Boston for her extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery, and we left Lily in the care of Heather’s parents in South Dakota. After her surgery, Heather went to join Lily at her parents’ house to recover and prepare for further treatment, while I returned home to keep working. They would stay there for the next two months, and sadly I would be able to visit them only once. I traveled more than 10 hours through a snowstorm to see them one Friday night after work. I was only able to spend a day with them, before I had to get back on the road to be at work on Monday morning. It was a short visit, but I cherished every moment of it.
My wife’s struggle with cancer was the most difficult time of my life, but it taught me so much. I learned the importance of accepting help. At first I tried to do everything myself, but if I hadn’t learned to accept the offers of assistance from our family and friends I never would have made it through. I also learned to never regret or second guess the difficult decisions that we were forced to make during this time. Rather, I learned to be grateful for the ability to make decisions at all. They gave us some small amount of control over a situation that often seemed completely out of our hands. In the end, Heather defied the odds that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis, and is cancer-free today, over seven years later. I hope that these lessons that we learned can help those currently struggling through a difficult battle with cancer.
We have decided that this years Male Cancer awareness week will be 2-9th of June. This week we will be asking you to help us promote our charity to everyone.
We will be sending out swear boxes to everyone that asks for one so that you can actively raise funds for us.
The week will culminate in our first national BLUE day on Friday the 7th of June. We are hoping we can get all the schools and colleges to wear blue for the day and to help us raise funds (Bye to Cancer can be used in the Primary schools). This doesn’t stop there… why not get your work place to do the same. Lets get the supermarkets to also join us by getting them all wearing blue to work.
As we begin and exciting new year of football for the BTC Allstars with games against, Villa, Blues, Coventry, Wolves staff and Albion in planning. We need to sort out this years 15-16 players.
All previous players will have first refusal on their positions but they do come with a price. Firstly every player will need to get a sponsor the sponsorship will cost them £250 and this will get their details on the back of your warm up tee shirts. You will also have to be pro-active in getting bums on seats.
We will also be expecting a commitment to raising additional funds throughout the year (bag packing/car cleaning etc..)
If this is for you then let me know you’re in ASAP
Happy New Year to you all.
We hope you have all had a great festive season and are ready to help us in 2013 to fight cancer for all.
We have plans for a fun packed year an hope you will join us on our events or simply just donate.
Figures released late last year prove that incidence of cancer on both men and women is on the rise. We need to challenge the causes of cancer, why it happens and how we can prevent the disease taking hold.
We pledge to you our loyal supporters that we will leave no stone unturned in the fight against cancer.
We are only here to help you, and help find the answer to cancer whether that be prevention or cure.
Please help us, if you want to talk to us about funding your project, your research please do. I know one day we will find the answer. Will it be you that helps us?