Welcome to the DT38 Foundation April newsletter, Channel38.
This is where we bring together all the very latest developments, events and support stories at DT38.
It’s also a chance for us to share important information about the work we do to raise awareness of testicular cancer around schools and in communities as well as publicly offering our thanks to the many people who support us in our endeavours.
DT38 Awareness Day at West Ham United
When 59,960 fans came together to pay tribute to Dylan Tombides on the 38thminute with a moving applause, the experience of football soared to a higher dimension.
The fourth annual DT38 Awareness Day took place at London Stadium on April 20th, just two days after the 5thanniversary of the passing of Dylan.
At what was an extraordinarily exciting and emotional day for all involved with DT38, it was thrilling to watch the Hammers players warm up in DT38 t-shirts ahead of their Premier League clash with 2015-16 champions Leicester City FC.
A team from DT38 including special guest Romford Golf Club’s John Fuller, visited the pitch ahead of the game and at half time Mr Fuller presented our co-founder Tracy Tombides with a cheque for £16,235 which was raised across 2018 for our cause.
As well as the special tribute to Dylan, a video was displayed on the big screens to highlight our recent visit to students at the West Ham United Academy where we educated young men about the importance of self-checking and the risks of testicular cancer.
Also joining us on the day were Chris and Lucas Gardner who won an auction for the latter to be mascot for the game with a £600 bid, which was topped up to £700 for DT38 by the West Ham United Independent Supporters Association (WHUISA) who organised the competition.
Runners up of the auction, Andrew and James Briscoe, from Melbourne, Australia, were treated to a player meet and greet and pitch side visit.
Our thanks to Lew Ozarow and WHUISA for arranging this.
Once again, a huge thanks to everyone at West Ham United, to John Fuller, Romford Golf Club and everyone who made this a day to remember and another huge opportunity for DT38 to raise awareness to the risks of testicular cancer in front of a full stadium and TV audience.
Table Football
On April 24ththe Australian Table Football Association marked Testicular Cancer Awareness Month by running a table top soccer shootout at Lakeside FC, the home of South Melbourne Football Club.
The star fixture featured Melbourne City defender Scott Jameson who pitted his flicking fingers against President of Football Federation Victoria Kimon Taliadoris.
The event – which offered a fantastic opportunity for DT38 to raise awareness – held a special significance owing to the presence of AFTA President Adrian Connolly who is currently undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.
Our thanks to AFTA and all who supported this event.
Here are details of just a few of the current initiatives.
Academy Visit
On April 16thour co-founder Tracy Tombides visited the new Dylan Tombides Learning Centre at West Ham United’s Academy of Football, Chadwell Heath.
On the day Tracy spoke with young players at the Academy to educate them about how to check themselves for testicular cancer and the importance of making this a routine.
Tracy also spoke about Dylan who played for West Ham United before his passing on April 18, 2014 at the age of 20 and the risks of testicular cancer.
A big thank you to West Ham United, Spire London East Hospital and their Consultant Urologist John Peters who spoke at the event.
Fantastic Fundraising
West Ham United Ladies’ Managing Director Jack Sullivan ran the Virgin London Marathon on April 28th, 2019, and donated 25% of his sponsorship fund to DT38.
At time of publishing Jack had raised a total of £30,230.75
which means £7,559.67 for our cause. Thank you so much Jack. This amount includes contribution through Gift Aid.
Also completing the mammoth challenge was our girl Emma Green, the latest of many races she has run for DT38.
At time of publishing Emma had raised £566.25. Amazing!
Huge congratulations to Jack and Emma on completing this incredible challenge.
On April 6th, 2019, a charity match organised by staff at health insurance company Bupa Global was held at Lancing FC.
Thank you so much to Sam Wooler and the teams who raised a whopping £2,067.18 for DT38.
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All money raised for DT38 is used to support our campaign to share information about the risks of testicular and to educate young people about the importance of health and wellbeing.
Many Happy Returns
There was a super six birthdays among our DT38 team in April.
On April 1st, Dylan’s auntie and DT38 Director Karen Bondi enjoyed her birthday and on April 7thformer Dylan Tombides Award winner, Ambassador and Charlton Athletic loan midfielder Josh Cullen turned 23.
On the 11thAvondale FC forward and Ambassador Liam Boland was 27 and one day later new DT38 Ambassador Rhys Ryan was celebrating his 21st birthday.
The day after that, April 13th, Luton Town fullback and DT38 Ambassador Dan Potts was 25 and April 21stformer Socceroo and Perth Glory star Jacob Burns – also a DT38 Ambassador, was 41 years old.
A very Happy Birthday from everyone at DT38 Foundation!
Picture of the Month
This month we have chosen this picture of Adrian Connolly the President of the Australian Association of Table Football who we are very proud to have partnered with.
Every month we receive so many amazing pictures of people showing their support of DT38 but we have to narrow it down to one, named our “Picture of the Month”.
Adrian is battling testicular cancer and is currently undergoing an intensive nine-week chemotherapy treatment programme.
Sending our love and best wishes to you for a speedy recovery Adrian, from everyone at DT38.
Sharing the Love
We are so grateful to more than 30,000 people who follow and support us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Every month we receive so many shares, Retweets, likes and tags and we’re so grateful for each and every one of them, thank you.
And that brings to end this edition but we’ll be back with the next edition of Channel38 in May.
If you have helped DT38 in some way in recent times, please be sure to let us know so we can include it in one of our future newsletters. Contact tracylee@dt38.orgor connect with us on Twitter Facebook or Instagram