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Date of release: 30th January 2025
Walking football group scores with donation
A walking football club boasting the UK’s oldest striker has scored for charity by raising hundreds of pounds as one of its players is treated for cancer.
Mike Stevenson, 76, is receiving treatment for bladder cancer at New Cross Hospital.
He organised a raffle through his team Old Corinthians Walking Football Club which raised £350 for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) Charity to thank staff for his treatment.
The retired roofing company director was diagnosed last May after he found blood in his urine and small tumours were discovered.
These have been removed through nine bouts of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and surgically via a trans-urethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT).
A course of BCG immunotherapy treatment to help prevent recurrence of the tumour or disease progression is ongoing.
Nicola Turuel, Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “The fact we’re able to offer treatment that can prevent the cancer from returning offers patients hope. It’s been a pleasure to offer this to Mike.
“I was delighted to learn he’d like to donate the money to the Urology department.
“It would be great if this could be used for equipment to enhance patient experience, but also that will improve efficiency for staff.”
A rigid cystoscopy next month will determine if Mike is tumour free. It clashes with a walking football match for the Kicking Cancer team he also plays for so he will miss the game.
“I feel like I’m in good hands and the treatment has been successful,” said Mike, from Walsall.
“When you’re told you’ve got cancer, it’s devastating but everyone I’ve dealt with at New Cross have been absolutely fabulous, so we decided to raise some money. The Trust is very lucky to have such great staff.
“I haven’t felt any side effects apart from some soreness initially.”
Throughout Mike’s treatment, he has played walking football three or four times a week.
Old Corinthians, based at Rushall Olympic FC, plays in the Birmingham League and last year faced Aston Villa legend and European Cup winner Des Bremner, now 72 and playing for Shard End.
It also boasts 90-year-old Mike ‘Ninja’ Fisher, who made national headlines last year for being the oldest striker in the UK.
“Walking football is generally for over 50s and at that age people get ailments,” added grandfather Mike, a West Bromwich Albion supporter who also plays walking football for Central England.
“Last year we lost a player to heart disease and held a charity match recently, raising £2,000. We have players with pacemakers and those who have had prostate cancer.
“The year before a fundraiser for Kicking Cancer raised £1,200, so it helps if there’s a connection to a cause. We’ll probably raise more for the Trust in future.
“We feel we’re doing the NHS a good turn by keeping people out of hospital.”
Amanda Winwood, RWT Charity Development Manager, said: “We’re delighted with Old Corinthians’ donation. This will help with care for our cancer patients.”