Daniel Ford
Daniel's The Mushroom Cup 7
Fundraising for Shine Cancer Support
Story
In October 2014 I lost my wonderful wife Hannah to cancer. She was just 28 years old.
Whilst she was suffering with the awful disease she got involved with this wonderful charity, which supports people in their 20's, 30's and 40's with cancer. This charity was extra special to myself and Hannah because one of the founders of the North East version of the charity was our amazing friend Soraya. Sadly in 2015 we lost 'Ray', most people assume Hannah and Ray knew each other because of cancer but that's not true, they knew other because of me and my friendship with Soraya's husband Tom.
One of the many things this experience has taught me is that cancer doesn't discriminate, it doesn't care how old you are that's for sure. Charities like Shine do great things and that's why I began what has become a lot of peoples favourite day on the football calendar.
The day is called the Mushroom Cup because on the night i met Hannah I asked her what her favourite sandwich filling was and her answer of Mushrooms was always a bit of a in joke with us so it seemed appropriate to pick something meaningful and fun in equal measure. Which was always my goal for the day.
The previous 7 mushroom cups have been great fun and wonderfully successful, we have raised about £30,000!
The day has become way bigger than I expected, and way bigger than me and my original goals and I will always be proud of that. The interest in the day blows me away every year and I will be forever grateful for the love and effort people give to the day.
Given the last few years I really hope the Mushroom Cup can bring everyone together and start the process of moving on from this shit show of a year in the same way the first Mushroom Cup allowed me to. That process isn't a straight line, but days like the Mushroom Cup really do help to soften that line. Shine was a massive way to soften that line for Hannah while she battled cancer and I will be forever grateful for that.
I'm told the Mushroom Cup raises 10% of the entire charities fundraising, which is just mind blowing to me, but it wouldn't be possible without all the love, help, support and donations of so many.
Hannah would be massively uncomfortable with what the day has become but also immensely touched by what has been done in her name. She dedicated her life to helping people in her career in the NHS so if the Mushroom Cup can replace just 1% of the good she did then that is all I can really ask.
Please if you can donate, play, sponsor or even just spread the word please do. Any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Doobidah.
Thank you.
Dan
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