Ashdon strides out at Wembley

A pupil from Big Wood Comprehensive in Nottingham, made an appearance as mascot at the England v Switzerland friendly at Wembley on Wednesday 6 February.

12-year-old Ashdon Roberts, who received support from CLIC Sargent when he endured a six month battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, strode out on to the pitch in support of the children’s charity alongside the Swiss national team.

According to his mother Hayley, who joined her son at the game, Ashdon was ‘over the moon’ at the prospect of walking out onto the field alongside football superstars at the much anticipated England game.

Although this was the first time that Ashdon had supported a national team, he is all too familiar with mingling with football celebrities and recently appeared as mascot at a local Nottingham Forest game. He has also met members of the Arsenal football team at their training ground in Hertfordshire.

Ashdon was eight years old when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer affecting the lymphatic system. The following six months saw Ashdon undergoing an intensive course of chemotherapy at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC). During this time he received a great deal of support from a CLIC Sargent Social Worker, who is permanently based at the hospital. He has since made a full recovery and is back at school carrying on with life as normal.

Hayley Roberts, Ashdon’s mother said: “When I heard that Ashdon had cancer, it just didn’t sink in. But it didn’t take long for it to take over our lives. Just two days after diagnosis, we were on a cancer ward … where we stayed for the next six months. Without our CLIC Sargent Social Worker, I wouldn’t have found the strength to cope.”

CLIC Sargent is The FA’s official charity partner in 2008. Throughout the year, the Charity will be holding a number of football events, which the FA is supporting.