Everything changed for Jack when, aged just two, he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. During a year of treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2012, playing cricket was an escape for him and his family.
“I used to just love playing in the corridors. It’s nice to get away from the reality of being stuck in a bed and receiving treatment. It takes your mind off what’s actually happening, and I loved watching James Anderson and Alistair Cook play for England on the hospital monitor,” says Jack.
Chance to Shine’s coaches often came into the hospital to give Jack and other children a bat and bowl in the corridors. When Jack’s nurse pointed him out to Denise, one of Chance to Shine’s coaches, he was away.
“There’s a lot of play workers in Great Ormond Street,” says his dad, James. “Chance to Shine just moulded in with their work perfectly. It’s so important for children to remember that they are kids and they can have fun.”
“They didn’t just see him as a patient; they saw him as a child.”
Without Chance to Shine’s coaches, he may not have played cricket in the wards and beyond. “When Denise visited, he absolutely loved it, it was so inspirational for him. He loved whacking a ball down the corridor to see how far it would go,” explains his mum, Olivia.
“I think part of the reason Jack continued playing to this day is because Chance to Shine made it so fun.”
Now, after making a full recovery, Jack is a regular at his local Essex club Hertford CC, playing most Saturday’s and Sunday’s. “It’s improved my confidence because I play with people of all different ages, from 70’s and 80’s to people younger than me,” he says.
“I know loads of people I wouldn’t have done, and I’ve had the opportunity to build friendships and meet people throughout the game – it’s had a massive impact.”
For Jack, cricket has been an escape ever since his diagnosis. He’s grown resilient, developed his self-belief, and built friendships. For Chance to Shine, it’s been a privilege to be part of his journey.
“Jack got cancer. We don’t know why, they can’t tell us why,” said James. “But he got through it and that’s brilliant for all of us. The main thing is that he’s here with his brother, and that’s really cool.”
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Watch Jack’s story on YouTube HERE
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Chance to Shine continues to work in hospitals, providing a 36-week cricket themed programme to help children recover from physical and psychological trauma. Our coaches deliver weekly sessions in the main school areas and is adapted for children too sick to go down to the hospital school. All sessions are adapted to the abilities of each child, and for some, it may be the only regular physical education children receive in hospital.
This programme is currently funded by The Westminster Foundation.
