I am sharing this moving blog post by Zaheer Clarke, an award-winning Jamaican blogger. He’s a sports man. I only know about Arsenal Football Club so I cannot claim any expertise at all. But this is a very touching article about cancer, and how it affects sportsmen and women – and sports fans – too. This reminds me of a dear Facebook friend (a passionate Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur fan, but I won’t hold that against her!) who has just undergone brain surgery in the UK. I have realised that her love of football (including the local teams back home in South Africa) has really kept her going (along with the devotion of her loving husband) – and strengthened her love of life. She’s recovering. I wish these two strong women, Marsha and Victoria, all the very best and a speedy recovery. And I dedicate this “reblog” to my friend Helen!
By Zaheer Clarke
Published July 3, 2017
Oftentimes, your love for sports can make the difficult moments in your life a little easier. For several individuals battling cancer, it’s this love and the love from their family which transform them into superheroes.
Hundreds Bid Farewell to Captain Horace Burrell
(Source: BOJTV)
Last week, the entire Jamaican football fraternity paid respects to a man, Captain Horace Burrell, whose dream united a people and made a nation proud. In 1994, Burrell marched into the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation. His immediate dream at the time was for Jamaica to attain qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France by 1997. It was a daunting task to be achieved in three years, but it was a task that required an enchanting and stomping leader, and that he was.
The Captain, with Rene Simoes at his hip, transformed Jamaica’s outlook on its place…
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Love and heartfelt thanks to you both , then – Zaheer and Emma for reaching out to me in my hospital bed – as I type this with my nihhtlight , as we have had “lights out on the ward for the day and night. Will chat tomorrow – much love and peace from Salford Royal Hospital. #HelenAlannahAllen.
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Dear Helen! It is wonderful to hear from you on my blog. You are just an amazing woman – I can just imagine you typing by your nightlight – you inspire me! We’re so happy you like this and that it helped you. I am squeezing your hand and giving you a hug right now! Talk soon! Emma
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Wow! Thanks Emma. I don’t know what to say about the reblog other than thanks. Never envisioned this blog article would have had that effect. I just wanted to speak from my heart and I just wanted to highlight the incredible courage and fight of these people including my friends. Your comment puts some of my own sentiments into view. Some of which I never vocalized directly in the piece. So thanks again. You really summarised it perfectly. And your dedication at the end, really hits home my goal for this article. It’s to celebrate them. Thanks dear.
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Zaheer, I am thanking you for this blog post. I am glad you spoke from your heart. It’s a topic that people don’t think about much. I guess we expect our sportspeople to be super-fit all the time. Also, we don’t realise how much sports can motivate and inspire people who are themselves sick… as in your friend’s case, and in my friend Helen’s case too (Barca and Spurs, and she’s a huge Messi fan). So you indirectly inspired Helen and made her very happy, today! Yes, we should celebrate these brave women (and the men, too).
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