Rugby club to remember team mate Simon at President’s Day match
Simon Smith during his playing days at Hull Ionians.
A FATHER of two who died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) nearly 10 years ago will be remembered this week as his family and friends come together to raise awareness and funds at the club where he began his rugby career.
Simon Smith dealt with the effects of MND with dignity and determination, even inspiring and informing others by writing a book, Alive But Not Kicking.
He died in April 2007, aged just 38, before he could finish the work. His sister Sharon completed the final chapters and now former team mates at Hull Ionians will play in his honour at the club’s annual President’s Day, the last one before the 10th anniversary of Simon’s death.
Peter Sharp, who took over as President of the club during the summer, said: “President’s Day was introduced by my predecessor Trevor Stephenson a couple of years ago and has already raised several thousands of pounds for various charities as well as helping put Hull Ionians on the map as a good place to visit and a good club to get involved with.
“This year I decided it was appropriate that we remember Simon as one of our own. We are working with his family and with the volunteers from the MND Hull and East Yorks Group to raise funds and we have had a fantastic response so far.”
Simon played for Hull Ionians and for Hull RUFC and later coached at Hullensians. He was diagnosed with MND in January 2005 and continued coaching from his wheelchair and then by email. His book, typed using a button between his knees, was published in 2011 in aid of the MND Association and Dove House Hospice.
Sharon said: “Simon's sons Daniel and Aaron play at Hullensians, the club Simon coached and where he was disappointed not to have finished his rugby career in a playing rather than coaching capacity – I guess his sons are completing that task for him.
“MND is just one of a too big number of terminal illnesses and whilst it's not a competition to achieve any notoriety in which is the "worst" of the terminal illnesses, it has to be one of the most cruel. I repeat ‘one of’ because I am careful to respect the emotions of all those who have experience of a terminal illness. MND steals your physical capabilities, often one by one whilst your brain fully functions. I wouldn't say Simon fought MND, nor was he a sufferer – he just had it, simple as that! Positively matter of fact – just as he was.”
Hull Ionians play in National League One, the third tier of English rugby union, as the highest ranked team in the region. They will wear specially designed commemorative shirts for the match against Loughborough Students which kicks off at 2pm on Saturday 17 December at Brantingham Park, Elloughton.
A pre-match charity lunch is now sold out and the club, in partnership with the MND volunteers, are organising other fund-raising events including a raffle and an auction of the shirts.
Peter said: “The lunch is sold out but we would welcome donations of prizes for the raffle and other contributions to the MND Hull and East Yorks Group. We would also like to see as many spectators as possible at the match, which promises to be a great occasion.”
Teresa Hardy, a volunteer at MND Hull and East Yorks Group, welcomed the support for the charity.
She said: “We are a small group but we still manage to raise about £30,000 a year to help people who are living with MND. Our Humber Bridge sponsored walk is our biggest event and raised about £10,000 this year. We don’t have a particular target for President’s Day but we hope the increasing awareness of the effects of MND will encourage people to give generously and we are very grateful to Hull Ionians for their support.”
Admission to the match costs £12 or £8 for concessions, and is free for under-16s.
