AFC Bournemouth
Nathan Ake and Ryan Fraser were on hand to give a special prize to a well-deserving family as part of the AFC Bournemouth Supporter Awards, supported by Vitality.
The Blissett family – massive Cherries fans - have been through an emotional few years with two of their three sons being diagnosed with blood cancer.
Unfortunately for the family, their 18-year-old son Lucas lost his battle and passed away but the oldest son is still continuing to fight his lymphoma battle.
Despite their immense pain and grief, Simon and Clare don’t let this stop them from being kind and fighting for others.
Their courage through heartache has been unbelievable, as they continue to work tirelessly for cancer charity LEAF, organising plenty of fundraising events and activities – on top of working full-time and being parents with children who are also going through their own battles.
Simon, Clare and their family were nominated for their strength and positivity despite the tragedy that has struck their family in the latest instalment of the AFC Bournemouth Vitality Supporter Awards.
As a result, Ake and Fraser went to the Blissett house to surprise the family with a visit to share stories and to also give some shirts to the deserving family.
“The award absolutely means the world to them,” Natasha Hunt of LEAF explained.
“Simon and his wife Clare are truly inspirational people and I am in awe of their strength and positivity. They’re big AFC Bournemouth fans so to be surprised by Nathan and Ryan was a really nice moment for the family.
“The awards are a fantastic way for people around the club to realise that everyone has something going on in their lives and they’re a great way of showcasing some of the courageous stories that many supporters have around the club.”
The club are currently taking nominations for the March award, Lifetime Achiever.
The recipient of this award must have dedicated many years to their cause. They may have raised money, campaigned for a worthy cause or committed themselves to helping within their community.
The number of years that they have been involved and the frequency of their involvement must be considered when judging.
The closing date is Wednesday 18th March. Submit your nomination here.
We’d like to thank our principal partners, Vitality, for their continued support.
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