Brave Aaron's last wish for a sporting legacy

Oct 27 2010 By Lawrence Poole, Buckinghamshire Examiner

A FOOTBALL-MAD teenager with a rare form of cancer, who has been told he has just weeks to live, is determined to leave a lasting legacy.

Aaron West, 16, was diagnosed with fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis, a form of liver cancer, in February.

Nobody else of his age in the UK suffers from this form of cancer, which usually affects adults with an unhealthy lifestyle, whereas Aaron was a healthy teenager who has played football at county level.

Now the athletic pupil of Amersham School, who collected six GCSE A grades just two months ago, has been told by his consultant his terminal cancer has accelerated so much he has little time left.

The brave Amersham teen is determined to try to ensure he has a lasting legacy by setting up a goalkeeping coaching academy.

With the help of local league side Wycombe Wanderers, a charity football match has been organised and will be played on Sunday to help fulfil this sporting dream.

A hand-picked Aaron West XI will play Wycombe Wanderers Community Boys at Chesham United's ground, The Meadow, to raise funds for the goalkeeping academy.

The 6ft tall budding goal-keeper, attached to a morphine drip, is physically a shadow of his former self but a steely, quiet determination still shines through.

"Football's been my life really. I never wanted to do anything other than be a goal-keeper," he said. "While everyone at school wanted to play up front and score goals, I just wanted to be back there stopping them. I've broken five fingers and it's the position you take the most blame for if anything goes wrong, but I love it."

Supported by Aaron's mother, Dax, and father, Robert, Wanderers' matchday co-ordinator, Chris Fraser, is helping to put on Sunday's game with Aaron's friends.

He said: "I worked with Aaron a while back when he came in on work experience to help with coaching and we just had the best time. He's a fantastic lad, so when I saw him a few months ago, it was really shocking to see how much he'd changed. I hardly recognised him.

"Aaron really wants to set up the academy and it would be such a great legacy if we could do that as he loves his football so much."

A regular at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, Aaron met several of the players and manager Arsène Wenger at the training ground recently. Aaron and his father hope to lay a stone in the Armoury tribute section.

Resplendent in his strip, Aaron said: "I just love the way Arsenal plays football. From the moment I saw them on the telly they've been my team - Dad supports Chelsea and we have a lot of banter."

Away from football, Aaron began studying for his A-levels in September, but became so ill he had to leave school and concentrate on his treatment.

His days now involve trips to John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, resting at home, and visits from local nurses to administer medicine, but he is determined to make the most of the time he has left.

"When I realised I couldn't go to school any more, I decided to concentrate on trying to make my life's dreams come true - life's too short," he said.

"This is why this academy is so important. You don't really find ones that specialise in goalkeeping - I couldn't when I was younger. I've always said if I don't make it as a player, I'd love to be a coach."

The 16-year-old has now undergone three chemotherapy sessions, but the cancer has since spread to his lungs and abdomen.

His parents are clearly bursting with pride when I ask them how his friends have reacted to the news.

Dax said: "Aaron is a very sociable, bubbly person who has left an imprint on a lot of people. They had a school prom last week with 200 people and they set up a special cubbyhole for him to rest, with balloons. They think the world of him."

His closest friends are nicknamed The Dragonfly Group, after Josie's Dragonfly, a charity set up in memory of Josie Madeline Grove, who died at a similar age from cancer.

Dax added: "They gave us a silver dragonfly to wear; they have been fantastic for him."

Aaron is now hoping to make it along to the match on Sunday to lend his support. Robert, a qualified referee, who is keeping order at the match, said: "He should be okay to make it as it's in the middle of the afternoon and he tends to be awake around then. He'd love to be there, so fingers crossed he'll be feeling up to it."

Aaron is hoping this will be the first step to seeing his dream come true: "I would just like to leave something that can help other people like me."

* The Aaron West XI will play Wycombe Wanderers Community Boys on Sunday, kick-off at 3pm. Entry is £1 and other donations will be gratefully received. All funds will go towards the goalkeeping academy. There will also be a raffle during the game.