Fundraising events organised to support football coach from Littleborough who is fighting leukaemia

A young dad and football coach has been diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 31 with the local community and  his club backing him in his bid to kick the disease.

Kyle Dearden from Littleborough has coached the under 8s and under 9s at Sapere Aude Football Academy in Rochdale for the last three years.

His seven-year-old son Parker plays in the team and Kyle, who works as manager at a plastics production firm, gives up every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday to help young players develop their game.

But Kyle has been given the devastating diagnosis that he has myeloid leukaemia. He had been feeling tired and lethargic for a few months and then developed a lot of coughs, colds and chest infections.

Originally doctors thought he had pneumonia, which he has had before, but then tests showed his white blood cells to be alarmingly high.

He underwent further tests until the diagnosis was confirmed.

Kyle, an avid Liverpool fan, said: “When you get a diagnosis like that you immediately think bad things. It is hard to process it all both emotionally and mentally.”

But he has been overwhelmed by the reaction of friends, family and the football club.

His brother Chadd has launched a GoFundMe to help Kyle pay for treatment he is undergoing which is not available on the NHS and has organised a walk from Rochdale to Blackpool.

And Sapere Aude has organised a 24-hour walk which will take place at Hollingworth Lake on 30 March. Parents and players will take part and do as many laps as they can with several of the coaches and parents committed to the full 24 hours.

 

 

Kyle added: “It is so humbling and overwhelming. I feel like I owe everyone the world.

“I really enjoy the football coaching and seeing the kids develop and it is incredible that people are now showing me all this support.

“It shows that the time I have spent with their boys and girls over the years has been appreciated.”

Kyle has had his bone marrow check and will soon start chemotherapy, he is already undergoing private treatment at Positive IV in Rochdale which specialises in Vitamin C and IV Therapy.

The dad is having hyperbaric chamber therapy and high dosage vitamin C treatment so that he is able to cope with the chemotherapy but also to try and repair his immune system for the future.

Kyle added: “The aim is to get fit and through the chemo and the treatment should help with the longevity of life so I am back coaching as soon as possible.”

So far almost £8,000 has been raised towards a £10,000 target and it is hoped the football club’s 24 walkathon will help smash the target.

To donate click here