Mrs.Maggs on a mission

10 Apr 2009

On a special day in the Christian calendar Good Friday, the day we remember the crucifixion of our Saviour Jesus Christ, VFTP brings you the story of the nation’s “silent killer” and two people’s efforts to do something to help. Some may have noticed a little less of our ever present club physio Andy Maggs. It’s all part of his fitness drive to do a sponsored run in aid of a charity close to his and his wife Sharon’s heart. I caught up with Mrs.Maggs to find out more.

Firstly, with Andy’s involvement in rugby and your son Tom being part of the Ospreys under 14’s squad are you a sports lover or widow ?

I don't feel like a rugby widow at all, I thoroughly enjoy watching and participating in various sports.......obviously rugby is my favourite!

Today we will be having a bucket collection for charity tell us about the good cause we are raising money for today ?

The collection is for the "Eve Appeal" which supports research into ovarian cancer. This is the 4th largest cancer in women in the UK and is known as the silent killer as symptoms are often detected too late. There is a mortality rate of 70% plus and the Eve Appeal intends to reduce this number by 50% over the next 5 years, which will be amazing! Recent publications of their preliminary work were reported on the national news and the results to date show they are making a positive impact in early detectionof ovarian cancer, this in turn will reduce the number of deaths from this disease!

Why are you supporting this charity particularly ?

This is a charity very close to my heart as my Mum is suffering from this condition and battling hard at the moment.

Do you have a target figure you would like to raise and apart from today’s collection what other events have you done or are in your plans ?

My target figure is £6000!!!...we have raised£1650 to date, so over a quarter of the way!!!

We raised a staggering £1000 from a raffle for Wales v England rugby tickets....kindly donated by Swansea RFC

We have an Easter raffle on going at present, a sponsored bike ride at the end of April, a charity ball organised for May,a horse racing night and an event in "Milkwood Jam"in June,a sponsored run from Andy, local schools having non-uniform days with proceeds going towards our appeal, car boot sales, a jewellery party,together with many kind donations which we have received and culminating in a trek along the Great Wall of China!!!.....hopefully we'll hit our target!!!!

People often say they get some much out of raising funds in this way, what have you learnt so far ?

A whole new education about ovarian cancer, inner strength to realise that if you try hard enoughanything is achievable....hopefully I'll remember this when I'm trekking the Great Wall of China!, a reminder that there are lots of kind and considerate people in this world despite the bleak picture oftenreflected by the media and lots of new friends!!!

Finally, any little things you like to tell us about the new slimmer Andy ?

Andy has severalextra skills beyondphysiotherapy......

He is a budding chef,regularly turning out gourmet delights, if the club are ever short of someone to prepare the food give him a call!!!!

During a cricket match, he once hit a sixover the boundary wall of St Helen's......same as Sir Garfield Sobers....well, may be not quite the same!!!

Andy once completed the London to Brighton cycle ride, volunteering at the last minute when a team member fell ill the night before the event and was unable to participate, at the time Andy was looking at the world through rose tinted glasses after one too many pints of beerand didn't realise the bike he had to ride belonged to someone who was 6'6'' tall!!! Andy is now an accomplished soprano!!

Andy knows nothing about horses but managed to back the winner at 100-1 in his annual flutter on the National!!!!

There are many other stories but none I could reveal to a man of the cloth!!!!!

My thanks to Sharon and I’m sure we wish her the best as she tries to reach that 6K target. Please do all you can to help today and give generously. VFTP will try to keep you informed on how things go. Our prayers go out to Sharon’s Mum in her battle that puts on the field events in perspective.

Today’s game brings another Turks v Jacks “battle” this time off the field, that of the chaplains. May I extended best wishes to Rev Eldon Phillips long standing Llanelli Chaplain to today’s game. Eldon’s the “grandfather” of rugby chaplaincy who paved the way, before Score sports chaplaincy network ventured into Rugby Union. He like me will have a busy weekend of Easter services. If you don’t worship elsewhere let me extend a warm welcome to Pantygwydr Baptist Churches Easter Sunday services. More details from www.pbc247.org or 459144 or see me around the ground.

Let me wish you a very happy Easter and enjoy the game, hopefully a Whites win and in fear of getting grief from Webby over looking ahead, maybe a foretaste of a cup final meeting between our ourselves and our old rivals.

Pete