Lucy's dream meeting with footballers (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Lucy's dream meeting with footballers

11:30am Friday 27th November 2009

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A FORMER cancer patient has lived her dream – of kicking about with Arsenal players.

Lucy Maples,12, from Lichfield Close, Chelmsford, was one of four patients of Great Ormond Street Hospital to star in a film with Premiership stars Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin and Bacary Sagna.

The film, called Fundraising Day, shows Lucy with the players – dressed as furry animals – collecting money for the hospital’s charity GOSH, the Gunners’ charity of the season.

The light-hearted film sees the players and manager Arsene Wenger join forces with patients from the hospital as they tour the streets of London to fundraise for the charity.

On Sunday, November 29, Arsenal will dedicate its Premier League match against Chelsea to the charity.

Lucy, a pupil at Moulsham High School, has been treated by a multidisciplinary team at Great Ormond Street following an emergency operation to remove a brain tumour in 2004.

Following her emergency operation, Lucy was put on an aggressive course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

In April this year, she was finally given the all clear by the cancer unit – incredible news for her family, who once thought they would lose her.

Although Lucy has significant hearing loss and some problems with her memory as a result of all the treatment, she is coping well at school and home.

Mum Linda said: “She is a huge Arsenal fan, as is her dad Nick and brother Ben.

“She was ecstatic about doing the film. It was a couple of special days for her. We are so pleased to support the charity.”

The club is encouraging supporters to give what they can through the Be a Gooner, Be a Giver campaign, which has a £500,000 fundraising target over the current football season.

Captain Cesc Fabregas, who is donating a day’s wages, said: “I visited Great Ormond Street Hospital back in August so I know what this means to the charity and the patients. I encourage supporters to give what they can.”

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