On the 4th September 2020 Thomas Jackson, a 14 year old wicket-keeper & batsman at Hyde CSC & member of the Lancashire CCC Under-15s squad, collapsed at home after playing cricket for the club at Werneth Low. He had kept wicket that night taking a brilliant catch off fast bowler Jake Hill. Thomas, affectionately known to everyone as TJ, was subsequently diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a tumour to the brain, and underwent 3 surgeries in the following two weeks. Thankfully the initial surgery was successful and TJ has begun the next challenge along the road to recovery having started chemotherapy and proton beam treatment.

During this subsequent period of recovery the germ of an idea was formed as to how TJ & the family could help do something for children who find themselves in a similar situation. Hair loss is a common feature of these types of treatment and that can be an added difficulty for youngsters to have to deal with. A crowd funding page was therefore set up with the target of raising £1000 to help buy beanies, bobby hats & caps for boys and girls to wear while undergoing their treatment. They also wanted to do something to show their gratitude to the staff at The Christie and wards 78/84 at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for everything they have done for them.

That initial target has been well and truly smashed and to date over £8300 has been raised with many people & organizations also sending in donations of headwear. The aim now is to continue to try and raise as much money as possible to assist the great work that The Christie and RMCH do. If you would like to make a contribution, no matter how big or small, you can do so here.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/neil-jackson-1

There is also a dedicated Twitter page @StandingUpFound which it is hoped will help spread word of this brilliant cause. If you are on Twitter please give the account a follow & retweet.

TJ's dad Neil, who is well known within the Manchester football community as a coach, spoke to the club today and wanted to pass on his thanks for all of the messages of support that the family have received in the last few weeks. "The number of people who have been in touch has been incredible and me, my wife Clare and Will, TJ's older brother, are really grateful for all of the support shown to us since TJ fell ill. I checked my phone the other day and there must have been over 700 messages. When I get the chance I hope to be able to thank everyone personally."

"Thomas has only been at Hyde for a year but he, and the family, have been made to feel incredibly welcome. TJ loves playing for the club, enjoys the coaching from Dave Leighton & the other coaches and senior players and has made some great friends there too. He is aiming to get back to playing with his mates just as soon as he can. We were talking the other day and he still doesn't think that he should have been given out LBW in his last match!"

Neil also wanted to put on record that people at TJ's two former clubs, Denton St Lawrence's and Broadbottom, have also been really supportive too showing the very best of the local cricket community.

"The generosity of people has been incredible especially during these difficult times where so many have less income available. I know of friends of TJ's who have given a couple of quid from their pocket money and people donating a tenner which for them is a lot of money out of their weekly budget. Complete strangers have made donations to me personally too. Donations of hats have come in from so may different sports and organizations from all over the country. It's been non-stop and we really can't thank everyone enough."

Neil explained that the name chosen for their charitable cause was an obvious one given the position that TJ plays on the cricket field. "Standing Up is what TJ does no matter how fast the bowler might be. He is such a brave lad and is fearless behind the stumps. We are all very proud of him and how he is meeting this latest challenge head on."

Nobody at Hyde CSC has any doubts about TJ's bravery. Keep fighting young man. We are all with you.