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I
say this with double pride being a member of the club and also fund manager for
the Lewis Marsh Fund.
This
year I took a deep breath and announced to the team of volunteers that we would
hold an ECG testing session at the same time for the lads who were coming to the
tournament! Mutterings of ‘she’s mad’.
One
sunny (yes there was one) lunch time in June, Gill Marsh and myself and my
sons future mother in law (gets complicated sometimes) sat under the parasol
in the garden with a glass of wine and 200 envelopes to stuff with four
sheets of paper each - and
stamp. Gill and I thought we had it pretty sussed but Sue (the
future mother law) tended to get a little irritated with what she felt was
our inefficiency. But a couple
of glasses of wine later and we managed to get them all off in the post.
I would like to be able to say that all 200 were duly returned but
sadly they weren’t. It took a
few reminders to the managers of the teams that these forms must come back
signed by at least the day of the tournament, if the boys wanted to be
tested.
By
the weekend of the tournament we had about 60 forms back and a few extra
non-participants to test. I
felt pretty disappointed but warned everyone that over the weekend we could
get more.
 We
organised the room so that the nurses, Sue and Philippa. would screen the
lads side by side but with screens separating them from the rest of the
room.
Sue had trained two of the team to input all the data for her and Philippa so that we could carry out the testings as quickly as possible –
in case we got a rush. So there we were, about to have a bit of lunch before
starting and suddenly outside the building we could see hordes of young
footballers heading our way!
The
tournament was running early and they had had their rest period. We had been
expecting two teams at that particular time
– we got five – all with paperwork to be checked and lads to be
tested. Well we really did
spring into action.
I managed to become a little fitter dashing around
locating parents watching other sons to sign the consent form, checking G.P’s addresses etc etc. More teams followed and in three hours we tested
about seventy youngsters. The efficiency of the team and the two nurses was
pretty astounding! Kim was on
‘stripping’ duty – that is asking the boys to remove their shoes, tops
and jewellery. She was so
organised – folding their shirts and keeping little piles of belongings
neat and tidy. After an hour of
this the smell from the sweaty feet (they had been playing football
remember!) and trainers began to take their toll and she turned a rather
peculiar colour but she gallantly continued!
The
next day was slightly slower until about three o’clock when we let half of
the team go as we felt we could cope with the few left to come. (when will
we learn). The few increased to an extra twenty-five.
Everyone
agreed that it was a most rewarding weekend – we had chatted and reassured
the lads and their parents and coaches.
The lads all wanted to know two prominent things – was it a needle
and would it hurt! Obviously they take in very little from the information
sent out or listen to their parents! So
what’s new!! We also spent
time speaking to so many people who wanted to know more about CRY and took
the leaflets home with them.
We
had tested 120 young people.
So
far on our previous testing days we had not had any come back with a
positive result. We felt in our hearts that this time we would not be so
lucky – the youngsters came from such a wide area.
We were right and sadly we did pick up some that needed a follow-up.
But although I feel sadness for those youngsters and their families, I also
feel relief that they have been picked up and perhaps another tragedy has
been avoided.
To
the team – well done girls!! We learnt a lot and will probably change a
few things for next time – yes there will always be a next time I hope!
The tournament itself yet again a great success – I have just sent CRY a
cheque for just under £5,000; £3,000
of which will pay for the testings.
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