Hoops give brave Grantown fan a day to remember
Brave Celtic fan Thomas Ward was on cloud nine after meeting his heroes at Parkhead and is determined to play again despite losing part of his leg to cancer.
The 18-year-old Grantown Hoops fanatic got to chat to the players and sat in the directors’ box to watch the Celts’ 1-0 win over Aberdeen in their opening game of the new Scottish Premier League season.
Thomas has endured bouts of chemotherapy treatment in a bid to beat bone cancer. Last September the former Strathspey Thistle under-17 player’s left leg had to be amputated below the knee because of the illness.
Strathspey Thistle’s secretary of youth development Steve Purves and youth and coach co-ordinator Eddie Morrison made Thomas’s wish come true.
They wrote to the Glasgow club asking if Thomas could go along to meet his idols when he was well enough and they kindly agreed. He was accompanied on the trip by his sister Katie (22).
The plucky teenager, who is now the envy of his Celtic supporting friends, said: "I was very nervous at first but the Celtic boys were all great to me.
"I met Gary Hooper, who I am a big fan of, and I had my picture taken wih him and with Anthony Stokes, Emilio Izaguirre, Victor Wanyama, Dylan McGeouch, Jamie Forrest and Kris Commons.
"I have been a Celtic fan for many years but I never thought I would get to meet any of my heroes.
"I have had a horrible year of chemotherapy but I have come through it and am feeling fine. If I can get my fitness back I hope to play football again".
He added: "I would like to thank the Strathspey Thistle youth development coaches for giving me the chance to go to Parkhead."
Thomas’s mother Jane said: "Thomas was over the moon with his trip to Parkhead; he loves football and loves Celtic. It was a dream come true for him. Celtic were absolutely wonderful.
"Thomas seems to be doing fine and hopefully when he gets a new prosthetic soon he can hopefully play football again. He is a very positive lad."
Mr Purves commented: "It was nice to help bring a smile to Thomas’s face after the traumatic period he has been through. Fingers crossed that he can play football himself again one day."
More than 20 Grantown Grammar School pupils had their heads shaved and their legs, armpits and even chests waxed last September to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which has been supporting former pupil Thomas.
Organised by the S6 fundraising group, they raised £2,206 through sponsorship and collections.
Each shirt has been personally signed by individual players, including Charlie Mulgrew, Joe Ledley, Beram Kayal and Kris Commons.
The auction is on www.celticcharityfund.org/auctions/auctionindex and fans will have until 8pm next Tuesday (August 21) to place their bid.
