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ONE of the UK’s most colourful soccer characters and cancersurvivor John Hartson will be flying to Bahrain as part of the Great BritishWeek of celebrations on the island.
He will be appearing at the British Club of Bahrain onThursday, January 16, to talk about his controversial playing career in Englandand Scotland and how he fought to overcome testicular cancer.
The former Welsh international played in the EnglishPremiership and the Scottish Premiership and his career on the field wascontroversial at times due to his strong character. The same strong characterhelped him to overcome the disease, having been diagnosed in 2009, followinghis retirement from professional football in 2008.
Today, Hartson is a regular TV soccer pundit, author andhighly sought after motivational and after-dinner speaker.
“As a professional footballer, I had it all: the fame thatearning 51 caps for Wales brought me and the enviable lifestyle that scoringover 100 goals in the green and white of Celtic afforded me. I also had thewarning signs of testicular cancer – and I ignored them.
“I want people to know that everything I went through,everything I put my loved ones through, could have been avoided had I knownmore about the disease – particularly, the importance of catching it early.
“It’s why I set up the John Hartson Foundation, why I’vegiven talks on the subject, why I’ve shared my experience on radio and TV,released a DVD, even written a book Please Don’t Go. I’m trying to do everythingI possibly can to raise awareness of testicular cancer.
“I’m also working hard to raise money to support othersaffected by cancer whether it’s a peaceful place to go for treatment or helpwith practical difficulties that cancer can bring. Because I know firsthand theimmeasurable difference that support can make.”
Hartson almost left it too late to seek treatment. He haddiscovered a lump four years earlier and later explained in one newspaperinterview how he was not mature enough to face it. “I hoped it would justdisappear. But the lump got larger,” he said.
It also spread, catastrophically, to his lungs and brain. Heneeded two brain operations, caught pneumonia and stopped breathing at onestage. But medics brought him back and he had to be connected to a ventilator.
When Hartson was strong enough he was subjected to intensechemotherapy and had 67 sessions over three months.
In addressing the brutal way in which cancer took hold ofhim Hartson draws a stark link between his carefree but essentially thoughtlessfootballing days and the ignorance that allowed his illness to develop.
Years ago, the ginger-haired Welsh hulk was the mostexpensive teenager in British football after transferring from Luton to Arsenalfor £2.5 million. He moved to West Ham and was involved in a controversialtraining ground incident.
Even now, amid talk of chemotherapy and surgery, of cancerand death, Hartson shudders at the thought of what he did to his formerteam-mate Eyal Berkovic at West Ham.
After the Israeli midfielder struck him on the leg intraining, Hartson booted Berkovic full in the face. It was a sickening sight,caught on camera, and Hartson says he is still mortified and ‘deeply regrets’his actions.
Hartson won 51 caps for Wales but he was often derided as a‘thug’ during fleeting stints at Wimbledon, Coventry, Norwich and West Brom.Yet, he made a significant impression at West Ham and, of course, Celtic, wherehe scored all those goals.
He developed a special rapport with the passionate fans of UptonPark and Parkhead and he was the Player of the Year in Scotland in 2005. He hasa tale and a half to tell and football fans have been snapping up tickets forhis forthcoming talk in the kingdom.
The 38-year-old dad-of-four works tirelessly to raise theprofile of the foundation. The first organisation to benefit was the Maggie’sCentre at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, in his native Wales. It is one of anetwork of centres throughout the UK which provides free practical, emotionaland social support for people with cancer and their loved ones. (www.maggiescentres.org)
He also fulfilled his pledge to donate £50,000 to YorkhillChildren’s Charity in Scotland. The money will be used to fund familyfacilities in the children’s cancer ward at the new 256-bed children’shospital, currently under construction on the Southern General campus on thesouth side of Glasgow.
He’s calling on supporters to ‘Grab Life by the Balls’ andjoin him for the charity’s flagship event, the BraveHart Ben Nevis Challenge,which takes place in July and will mark the fifth anniversary of his cancerdiagnosis.
Hartson added: “My charity work is so important in my lifethese days and that’s what the year ahead is all about for me. I’m reallylooking forward to coming out to Bahrain and meeting everyone. Most familieshave experience of cancer in some way. Since my illness I’ve met so manycourageous people – both young and old – who have been affected by cancer andI’m determined to do all I can to raise awareness.
“I was one of the lucky ones. I made it through the otherside after a time when it looked like I wouldn’t make it. I have four wonderfulkids who mean the world to me. My fantastic wife Sarah is now expecting ourthird child together and that’s going to be another major event in 2014.
“I want to put my experience of battling cancer to good useand by that I mean raising as much money and awareness as possible.
“It would be fantastic if we could get a team from Bahrainto come and join us at Fort William in the Scottish Highlands to climbBritain’s highest mountain in July. It’s a brilliant weekend and the moneyraised will help us to continue our work.”
Chairman Andrew Savage described Hartson’s visit as theBritish Club’s ‘main event’ during the Great British Week which is being fullysupported by the popular members’ club. He said: “With regards to the GreatBritish Week, it is an opportunity for Great Britain’s manufacturing industrieswho export their products worldwide to be showcased under the event’s logo.
“Engineering companies will be at the forefront with theBahrain Airshow being the major event, however clothing, retail and leisuresections are all being promoted. Local clubs and societies will ensure thatparticipants and visitors receive a ‘Great British’ welcome during their stayin Bahrain.”
Dress code for the dinner, which will start at 8pm, will beBlack Tie. Tickets are now on sale from the club reception priced at BD23 formembers and BD25 for members’ guests.
