Home Page Haverhill News

Haverhill Poll
Haverhill Poll

General

Mailing List


Matthew Hancock
Your Local MP
 


Ian meets his hero Shearer

By John Downing and Jo Deeks on Thursday, 13th December 2001.

CHRISTMAS came early this year for one football made nine-year-old boy suffering from lung cancer.

Ian Rogerson had the trip of a lifetime, was treated like royalty and got to meet his hero, former England striker Alan Shearer.

He was whisked away from Addenbrookes hospital where he is undergoing chemotheraohy, to see his beloved Newcastle United play Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.

He took his parents, Brian and Anne, and 13-year-old brother Keith to share his big day and an executive box at the ground.

Anne said: “When we heard we had got the tickets, I couldn’t believe it. Ian can’t play football now and this was a real pick-me-up. It was his dream come true to see Alan Shearer and we just couldn’t calm him down.

“It really made his day, he was so excited. Bobby Robson came out of the changing rooms and took him down to meet Alan Shearer and all the other Newcastle players were there.

“Bobby Robson told him that he liked his cap and Alan Shearer asked him how come he was a Newcastle supporter living down here. Ian said his dad was a really good supporter and came from Newcastle, but he supported them too.

Anne added: Alan Shearer is his idol and he was so nice to him. Ian is coming to the end of his chemotherapy treatment and this was a real boost for him.

Ian’s trip was masterminded by staff at the Hi Impact Fitness and Leisure Centre in Haverhill where he does for exercise as part of his treatment.

Jasmine White, duty manager at the gym said: “His family couldn’t get tickets but the Plumb Centre in Haverhill used their contacts at Ipswich Town to get the executive box.”

Fitness instructors Scott White and Nick Ager were guests of the family, who live at Glemsford Place, Haverhill, at the game.

The gym has also organised a five-a-side tournaments to raise funds after tomorrow’s final.

Staff at Hi Impact are continuing their fund raising efforts in the hope of sending Ian off on a trip.

An auction is being planned and anyone with any donations or items to give can take them to the gym. Mrs Rogerson said she had asked for any cash left over to be given to the children’s cancer ward at Addenbrookes’s.

Haverhill Weekly News

Comment on this story

[board listing] [login] [register]

No comments have been posted for this news entry.

 

You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)

© Haverhill-UK | Accessibility | Disclaimer