Welcome to the DT38 December Newsletter, Channel38.
In this festive edition Tracy Tombides, our Co-Founder reflects on 2024, the tenth anniversary of the passing of her son Dylan.
2024 – Remembering Dylan Tombides, Ten Years On.
This year has been the tenth since the passing of my son Dylan Tombides.
Of course, Dylan remains in our lives every day and his legacy through DT38 is stronger than ever.
And it was so important for me, our family, friends and the football community that this anniversary was appropriately marked throughout the year.
So many wonderful people and organisations have stepped up to be part of DT38 this year and I’m extremely grateful to each and every one of you.
We kicked off the New Year full of excitement for what was to come.
With Dylan’s memorial statue shining bright outside HBF Park, we’ve been very proud to work with Perth Glory FC for many years now and we’re extremely grateful for the support we enjoy through this partnership.
And in February we expanded our reach to Queensland by teaming up with fellow A-League club Brisbane Roar FC as a new Charity Partner.
The two clubs met in February for the annual Glory DT38 Awareness Match at HBF Park, a stunning A-League occasion to pay tribute to Dylan.
We Marched into April having announced testicular cancer survivor and teammate of Dylan, Henri Lansbury, as a DT38 Ambassador (more on that later) and our April was showered with exciting events.
We kicked off the month by launching a new DT38 logo with Dylan’s name front and centre, followed by a new website! The reaction has been great, thank you, we spent many a late night getting it tip top!
On April 13th our new Charity Partner Brisbane Roar FC held their inaugural DT38 Awareness Match. A sea of orange passionately remembered Dylan and helped us raise awareness of that awful disease which took his life.
The spotlight switched overnight to London for the DT38 Awareness Day at West Ham United, where the TV cameras beamed the moving 38th minute applause to Dylan across the world and before the Premier League match a giant #38 Tombides shirt laid in the centre circle – a powerful tribute that will live long in the memory.
This year has been full of very emotional tributes to my son and people occasionally ask how it makes me feel, obviously I feel so immensely proud of Dylan and of the love that people show so often to him and to our family. Thank you.
After a little rest (not much time for that, there’s important work to do) we moved into May for two more hugely important occasions, just days apart.
We were really pumped for our Golf Day down under this year. The course at Joondalup Resort was packed on May
14th and the dollars raised are making such a difference.
For those interested, we opened registration for 2025 and you can sign up here: https://shorturl.at/hy8XO
One of the most exciting events we’ve ever been involved with took place four days later, a football match to mark the 10th anniversary of Dylan’s passing, nothing could have been more appropriate.
Organised by Ian Morgan of E13 Events, the fundraising fixture between Hammers and Dagenham & Redbridge FC Legends attracted a whole host of famous names and 2,000 fans at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Everything about it was so right!
Dylan represented Australia on many occasions up to u22 level and our Patron Mile Jedinak said he has no doubt he would have gone on to appear at World Cups as a senior player.
We’ve been so privileged to enjoy the support of the Socceroos since day one and partnership with them for their FIFA WCQ match on June 11th at HBF Park was truly magical.
The eyes of the region were on that fixture, which paid tribute to Dylan and promoted DT38 so powerfully.
Dylan’s Perth roots are a vital aspect of our charity, we enjoy connections with Glory, Perth SC, Stirling Macedonia FC and the community at large.
And in August our UK and Australia connections were brought together when the West Ham United FC Women’s team touched down on Perth soil for a tour.
They attracted the media and flew the flag for Dylan and DT38 with total class.
Whilst the ladies were enjoying the sites and pitches of WA, we were also busy back in the UK getting ready for our sell-out DT38 UK Golf Day at Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club, organised by Terry Moncur of LHGCC and Ian Morgan of E13 Events.
The sun shone in south Essex and for the first time a Aussie-Brit combo DT38 team worked the course amongst a cohort of Hammers legends and generous guests.
So much was happening already in 2024, but we were also looking for an activity-based initiative this year which could help us raise the funds we need to continue to help save men’s and boy’s lives by raising awareness of testicular cancer.
DT38 Ambassador Paul Bass hit all the right notes when he suggested a sporting solution based on the number 38.
And so the DT38km Challenge was born.
It took place in September, nine participants ran, walked and lifted their way to raising £2,200 for DT38. Awesome.
Throughout the year were delighted to welcome six new DT38 Ambassadors to our team.
Premier league footballer Henri Lansbury, Hammers icon Stuart Slater, Eastleigh FC striker Paul McCallum, Middlesex CCC cricketer Zak Belchamber, businessman Dave Cook and Dylan’s school friend George Green.
Our Ambassadors are right at the heart of our charity.
Gareth Vidler ran all year in DT38’s name, James Fuller took part in almost every UK event we laid on and AFL star Zac Williams grew a tache for Movember.
All three raised funds for us as did many others and I thank you all.
Of course, because of the rules of television we had to keep schtum, but for several months we’d been involved in the filming of PL Stories: Dylan Tombides.
The TV documentary premiered on Optus Sport in Australia and Sky Sports in the UK on October 2nd.
The response to this program has been truly overwhelming and I am forever grateful to Co-Producer David Davutovic for the unbridled passion, commitment and skill he gave to this project.
I was honoured when David agreed to be a Patron of DT38 shortly afterwards.
November kicked off, for us, with a special screening of the show – organised by Bruce Media – with many famous faces and DT38 supporters arriving in South Yarra, Melbourne, to support the production.
Another showing took place later in the month at the Dylan Tombides Learning Centre at West Ham United FC’s Academy where it was viewed by the club’s next generation of players.
When it comes to dedication, I’m always in awe of the people who sign up to the white collar boxing event we host in partnership with Peacock White Collar Boxing in November.
And Awareness Below the Belt 6 on November 17th attracted more competitors than ever before.
As an aside, one of them was the cousin of Conor Benn and we were delighted to have both of them with us at York Hall on the day.
Temperatures were raised inside the ring and much needed funds were raised outside of it and we’re very grateful to Dominic Shephard and Tony Liston of Peacock WCB.
Attached to the event was an online auction which finished this week and added to the fundraising total.
I couldn’t possibly mention all of the people who have helped us this year, there are so many of you and it would take until February.
But please know that as we move towards the end of 2024, a very special year for me, my family and everyone at DT38, our hearts are bursting with pride at what we’ve all achieved.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lots of love,
Tracy Tombides xx