Welcome to the DT38 December newsletter, Channel38.
In this festive edition, Tracy Tombides, our Co-Founder, reflects on 2025, the tenth anniversary of DT38.
2025 – A Decade Dedicated to Raising Awareness for Dylan
This year marks the tenth anniversary since DT38 was created in memory of my son, Dylan.
The old adage “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind” never seems truer than when a major anniversary is upon us.
Ten years feels like a long time in any of our lives, and in many ways, things have changed dramatically for our charity. However, in others, things haven’t moved quite as much since we launched at the home of West Ham United FC on 28th February 2015.
I remember back then feeling a deep sense of urgency to share Dylan’s story and help people understand what they or their sons need to do to reduce the risk of being affected by testicular cancer.
I’m extremely moved by the men who’ve contacted DT38 to explain how Dylan’s story has reached them in time to avoid the cancer progressing to a late stage.
One beautiful example was when Perth Glory FC fan Bradley Clarke contacted us. He became aware of Dylan’s story because of our partnership with the club and the awareness opportunities that platform affords us.
[Link to Bradley Clarke’s story](https://dt38.org/news/a-special-tribute-from-testicular-cancer-warrior-bradley-clarke-who-says-having-heard-dylans-story-was-really-eye-opening-i-love-being-a-fan-of-perth-glory-and-seeing-his-statue-every-home-game/)
But tragically, we also hear about guys who are not checking their testicles as a routine—backed up by the latest research—because they don’t yet know why it’s important or they don’t think it could happen to them.
And so, our work must continue in earnest now and for as long as it takes.
The past ten years have seen our charity grow beautifully.
In 2014, when I began talking to my family and the guys at West Ham United about creating this for Dylan, I didn’t know how far it would go.
I knew that I would give it everything I had because I wanted to ensure Dylan’s legacy and personality continued to shine bright. However, the people who’ve supported us and the places we’ve reached—I couldn’t have foreseen that, and it blows my mind to think about it.
Because of the work and support of my wonderful team and our partners, we continue to reach more people than ever before, both in person and online.
We’re forever grateful to our partner clubs: West Ham United, Perth Glory FC, Brisbane Roar FC, Stirling Macedonia FC, and Perth Soccer Club—the platform you provide to DT38 every season continues to turbocharge our reach.
The most challenging aspect of our work is raising the funds we need to continue helping to save lives through education, and I’m very grateful to every single person who has supported our busy program of events throughout the year.
We’ve enjoyed busy golf days in both the UK and Australia, and we’re so grateful to Terry Moncur (Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club), as well as the whole DT38 Australia team, for making these events the smash hits they are.
These days have become firm fixtures in our fundraising calendar, and as you can imagine, work is well underway for 2026.
For six years, we’ve benefited significantly from a second main event in the UK, Awareness Below the Belt.
It’s a thrilling day for hobbyist and novice boxers, and we’ve loved heading to Bethnal Green during the International Break each November.
Sadly, it wasn’t possible for the event to go ahead this year, but we hope that it will return in the future when the time is right.
In the second section below, I have attempted to run you through how this very busy year unfolded and given a much-deserved “shout out” to many of the great people and organizations who’ve stepped up to support DT38 this year.
I wish I could personally name everyone who has donated, held an event, given up their time, fundraised, and helped us in so many other ways, but you’d be here until the middle of next year reading it.
But we know who you all are, and we’re extremely grateful for everything you’ve done for DT38 this year.
You have been part of a wonderful 12 months for DT38, which has allowed us to take our important messages to so many more people.
On behalf of the Tombides family and everyone at DT38, I would like to offer you our very sincere and heartfelt thanks.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lots of love,
Tracy Tombides
2025 – Our Highlights
January
Having just announced the dates for several of our big events across 2025, we kicked off the year with some very important community work.
Members of our team often make personal visits to organizations to talk directly with groups of men and boys (and ladies too).
In January, Tracy visited a cohort of young people at the Children’s Support Service in Wickford, Essex, UK.
Read about it here: https://dt38.org/news/tracys-visit-to-childrens-support-service-wickford-a-testimonial
February
DT38 was officially launched at Upton Park Stadium on February 28th, 2015, making this year our charity’s 10th Anniversary.
To mark the occasion, we launched a photo share where we asked people to send us their favorite DT38-related images. We received a great response and some wonderful images, just like this one.
You can learn more about our 10th anniversary here: https://dt38.org/news/dt38-marks-10th-anniversary
March
In March, our third DT38 Golf Day down under was very successful and benefitted from great support after a huge amount of work from the DT38 Australia team securing sponsors and selling tickets for the event. You can read about it here: https://dt38.org/news/dt38-australia-2025-golf-day-picture-gallery
Also that month, Mauro Rivas ran an awareness and fundraising event in support of two cancer charities, including DT38, at Namasteam, South Fremantle, WA. Mauro has himself battled testicular cancer and played football in the same league as Dylan Tombides as a youngster.
The first leg of the annual DT38 Trophy was settled at Maco Park between our partner clubs Stirling Macedonia FC and Perth Soccer Club.
Take a peek at the photos from that day here: https://dt38.org/news/scorcher-at-maco-park-raising-awareness-for-dt38/
Also in March, Essex man Oliver Murray raised £220 for DT38 by running the Chelmsford Half Marathon—thanks, legend!
April
April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and we paid tribute to Dylan on the 18th, which was the 11th anniversary of his passing.
We began the month with a very special screening of “PL Stories: Dylan Tombides” at Curzon Bloomsbury, supported by a host of celebrities, including former Hammers Manager Graham Potter, and it made national news: https://dt38.org/news/london-dylan-tombides-documentary-screening-image-gallery/
In a very busy month, we also named Mark Noble as a Patron of DT38 and benefited from not one, but THREE incredible awareness matches.
We were given center stage at the A-League fixture Perth Glory FC vs. Adelaide United FC Awareness Match on April 12th: https://dt38.org/news/glory-v-adelaide-dt38-awareness-match-picture-gallery/
Just five days later, we had the Brisbane Roar vs. Western United Awareness Match on April 17th: https://dt38.org/news/dt38-awareness-match-at-brisbane-roar-in-pictures/
And again, 48 hours later on April 19th for the DT38 UK Awareness Day 2025 at West Ham United FC vs. Fulham FC at London Stadium https://dt38.org/news/dt38-uk-awareness-day-2025-in-pictures/)
What a week! Never before have we been part of three awareness matches in just seven days.
Also this month, Dylan’s father, Jim Tombides, met the lads at West Perth Football Club to share his son’s story and give a talk about testicular cancer and the importance of self-checking.
May
May was a sparkling Awards season for DT38 and two of our partner clubs.
Hammers Academy star Preston Fearon joined a sparkling list of Dylan Tombides Award winners on May 18th after scooping the accolade for 2025.
Check out the full list of winners here: https://dt38.org/news/dylan-tombides-award-winner-2025-announced-at-whufc/
Jaylan Pearman claimed the DT38 Young Player of the Year Award at the Perth Glory FC MGP Awards in May. Find out more https://dt38.org/news/jaylan-pearman-wins-dt38-award-at-perth-glory-mgp-night/
June
June was “full-on” in the best possible way.
First up, we announced that we’re teaming up with Testicular Cancer Network, a fine organization that brings together testicular cancer charities from across the UK for information sharing and more.
Then, the fate of the 2025 Dylan Tombides Trophy was sealed in a tight affair at Dorrien Gardens, where Perth SC met Stirling Macedonia FC on 27th June in the annual two-leg cup to raise awareness of DT38 and pay tribute to Dylan Tombides, who had connections with both clubs as a youngster. The Macies retained the trophy after a 3-3 draw on the night and a 2-2 result in the first leg on 29th March 2025.
We’re so proud to have a close affiliation with the Socceroos, and we were honored to be invited to meet with Brandon Borrello and Connor Metcalfe at Dylan’s memorial statue outside HBF Park. The rendezvous took place the day after Australia’s huge FIFA WCQ victory against Japan on 5th June in Perth.
Another DT38 superhero was confirmed when DT38 supporter Richard Cox raised £2,001 by cycling 700 MILES throughout June around his home area of Somerset. We’re extremely grateful to Richard, his backside, and his bike, and we’ve heard a rumor that he’s planning a new, non-bike-related event for 2026. Superb!
July
Tracy joined the guys at Plumbase Heathfield for their own Golf Day in July. They raised a wonderful £1,750 for DT38 around the course and around £2,000 in total this year. All this money is used to support our work raising awareness of testicular cancer through education. We’re so grateful to DT38 Ambassador Gareth Vidler and the team.
August
The fifth annual DT38 UK Golf Day hosted by Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club was a sell-out success once again. These guys are incredible; their support for DT38 is epic.
Recap on the big day here: https://dt38.org/news/dt38-uk-golf-day-2025-picture-gallery/
Also in August, we announced David Sullivan Jr. as a Patron of DT38.
September
September got off to a wonderful start, thanks to our friends at Stirling Macedonia FC, who raised $500 AUD for us through a gate coin collection at their pre-season friendly against Perth Glory FC on 6th September 2025.
Also that month, young Alex Canadas was named Dylan Tombides Young Player of the Year at the Stirling Lions FC Juniors & JDL Trophy Night 2025.
Chris De Lima was named a Trustee of DT38 UK.
On September 25th, we remembered the 13th anniversary of Dylan’s West Ham FC first team debut. We have an event planned in 2026 around this important moment in our year.
October
We extend huge congratulations to young Sebastian Despotovski (Perth Glory FC) in October, who won the Dylan Tombides Male Young Player of the Year for 2025 at the NPL WA Awards on October 16th, 2025. DT38’s Jim Tombides and Donna Guiffre both took to the stage to participate in the ceremony.
Also that month, we were pleased to announce Lew Ozarow of the Vintage Hammers organization as an Ambassador of DT38.
November
It was such a joy for us to welcome scores of young footballers from the West Ham United FC Academy to a special screening of the documentary film about Dylan’s life and career at Lumiere Cinema, Romford on November 7th.
Hammers icons, including Mark Noble, also attended what was a memorable evening.
Read about it here: https://dt38.org/news/dylan-tombides-doco-cinema-screening-picture-gallery-live/
It gave us immense pleasure to officially welcome Terry Moncur of Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club into our team as a DT38 Ambassador. We also named Hammers icon Alan Curbishley as an Ambassador that month.
And we revealed that West Ham United FC Media Officer Rob Pritchard is now a Trustee of DT38 UK.
December
We wrapped up the year by launching a festive auction in Australia, your chance to bid for a Corporate Box Experience at Perth Glory FC, including a $200 drinks voucher. Bidding is OPEN NOW.
You can bid here: [Link to Auction](https://shoutforgood.com/auctions/dt38-australia-christmas-auction)
We rounded up a wonderful year at DT38 with Christmas drinks both in the UK and Australia.