Horsham help appeal for son of former United defender

Torquay United fans are being asked to dig deep and sponsor a marathon runner raising funds for the desperately sick son of a former Gulls player.

Charlie Hempstead is looking forward to United’s third round Isuzu FA Trophy tie against Horsham on Saturday, December 7. He is also looking beyond it.

For Charlie, the programme editor and match reporter for Isthmian League Premier Division underdogs Horsham, will be just two weeks away from another important date.

Charlie is 63 and vowed, 14 years ago, that he would never attempt a marathon again, but he is dusting down his running vest and un-mothballing his trainers to help raise money for the desperately sick son of ex-United player Jakub Sokolik.

The three-year-old - also called Jakub - has B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a fast-growing and aggressive type of blood cancer.

Despite Jakub having lived in the UK for 10 years, playing for Liverpool, Southend, Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil as well as the Gulls, his son is ineligible for NHS treatment.

The insurance cover has run out and the costly treatment of the illness has left Jakub in debt. He is working all hours to pay off those debts, but costs are ongoing and the cancer is unforgiving. The next phase of treatment has to be paid for and there is not enough money to pay for it.

Now Charlie is taking part in the Chasing Numbers Christmas Cracker on December 20. He wants to raise money to help Jakub cover the treatment of his son’s illness and to give the whole Sokolik family a Christmas to remember and a New Year full of hope.

Charlie is appealing to all football fans, whether they support Torquay or another club, to consider donating even a small amount to his marathon fundraiser.

“I’ve said countless times that I had no intention of ever running another marathon, and I meant it, but sometimes things happen that change everything,” said Charlie.

“When my friend Jakub's young son was diagnosed he thought that the costs would be

covered by his health insurance. Despite having lived and worked in the UK for 10 years, Jakub's status as an EU national no longer permanently resident here meant that his son was not eligible for NHS treatment.

“The insurance was initially adequate, but the relentlessness of the disease meant that more and different treatments were required and the cover eventually ran out.”

Jakub borrowed funds to pay the bills, said Charlie. “Working all hours to pay off those debts is one thing,” said Charlie. “But the sad reality is that this is an unforgiving disease and the costs are ongoing. I’m running the Chasing Numbers Christmas Cracker in Staines on December 20, having had no thought of ever doing a marathon again.

“I was 49 the last time and I’m 63 now. It will be a challenge, but an old geezer’s creaky knees are nothing compared to a small child’s entire future.”

Click https://gofund.me/3d651b1f to support Charlie and Jakub’s appeal.