The East Sunbury sports community is throwing its support behind coach Jessy Carroll as he faces the fight of his life.
Carroll has been battling stage four non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma since October 2015, discovered while he was backpacking overseas.
The 26-year-old’s health improved to the point where the Thunder handed him the coaching reins of their Gisborne and District Cricket Association side for 2016-17.
He’s already undergone 19 rounds of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation and a trial drug, but none of these treatments have worked. A fortnight ago he was handed devastating news – he had four weeks to live.
Carroll started a new trial drug this month to stop the spread of his cancer, but the treatment costs about $6000 every three weeks.
Doctors advised that he would need to be on this medication for at least two years – that’ll cost more than $200,000.
East Sunbury’s football and cricket clubs have united in an online GoFundme campaign led by Carroll’s girlfriend, Bianca Moverley, which raised nearly $23,000 in its first 48 hours.
“Jessy’s an amazing young man with the biggest heart, and has so much to give to the world,” Bianca posted.
“He is one of the strongest, inspiring people we know and he needs help. Any kind of donation would be greatly appreciated, as it will be going directly to the cost of this trial drug.”
Thunder president Keith Osborne said Carroll’s fighting spirit and his willingness to help is why he means so much to club members.
“Sometimes Jessy’s biggest problem is that he can’t say no,” Osborne said.
“He always has to help, he always has to support.
“And when he commits to something, he commits to it 100 per cent. He’s a role model around our club,” he said. “There are not many blokes or players who Jessy hasn’t helped or touched along the way.
“I know Jessy feels that he’s not really worthy of all the support that he’s getting, and I know that he’s also feeling extremely overwhelmed by the support of this community, but it’s all helping him to stay positive, and he’s doing all the right things to stay healthy.”
Osborne said people far and wide have thrown their support behind Carroll.
“Other clubs have been amazing too,” he said. “It just goes to show that, when the chips are down, the whole community gets together to help.
“Sunbury is a vibrant sporting culture and is very competitive, but when they see someone is in need, it doesn’t matter what badge you wear on your chest, everyone just digs in to help.”
To donate: bit.ly/2jDveQd
