Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
Mansfield half Marathon
Gary Norton
The Charity set up for local Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Des Brown is to benefit from the support of Gresley Rovers football club. Club manager Gary Norton is to complete the Mansfield half Marathon on Sunday July 2nd in aid of the Charity set up to raise £12,000 so that Des can become the first person in Burton to undergo revolutionary stem cell treatment abroad.
37-year-old Mr Brown was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) seven years ago and is now confined to a wheel chair and has blurred vision and speech problems. He is hoping that controversial stem treatment will improve his quality of life.Brother Albert and his family set up a fund raising and awareness website and have planned a number of events to try and raise the funds needed for his brother to undergo the treatment which due to it not yet being licensed in Britain is only available abroad. Albert contacted the club earlier this year to ask for support and the club have obliged.
Gary is to take part in the Mansfield half Marathon for the 4th year in succession. Previously it has been in aid of Cancer charities but this year he is happy to support the Brown's in their fundraising efforts by doing the sponsored run in aid of Multiple Sclerosis.
Gary commented: "I like to do something each year for Cancer charities and this year will be no different. I intend to get involved in something else later in the year in that regard. I've known Albert for some years and he contacted us at the club asking if we could help the cause in any way. I previously knew very little about MS but after doing some research on the subject would like to help Des raise the funds to undergo the treatment abroad. The Chairman, Mark Evans and I are delighted to offer the support of the club and we are looking for people to pledge support and sponsor to me for the run in aid of Des's charity.
We also intend to do some sort of collection during our Bass Charity Vase game with Burton Albion at the Moat Ground on Friday July 28th and we are also in discussions with the family about our first home game of the season being used to make the draw for the fund raising raffle they have organised. We hope that Des, Albert and their family will be able to attend both games in person".
Anyone willing to sponsor Gary for the event can either leave a message and details on the forum, or email sponsorgary@gresleyrovers.com.
Albert has put together a very informative website on Multiple Sclerosis and Stem Cells as well as make people aware of this projects fund raising activities. For more information visit www.help4des.com
