R4R v2.0 Launch - Rossy’s Round
What a day it was yesterday at Frankston Dolphins Football Club for this years R4R launch seeing so many people in their R4R hoodies and Fight MND beanies! Things were kicked off with the president’s lunch where we had a number of speakers including our very own Josh Webster cofounder of R4R and Bec Daniher from Fight MND. We also celebrated Rossy’s Round for the VFL match between Frankston and Box Hill, both clubs where I spent many years working.
It’s never easy going back to places that have meaning to you. I remember back when I’d just started getting symptoms mid 2020 and I was taking training and drills at Frankston, yelling stuff out as I did, just thinking to myself something really doesn’t feel right. I remember things getting worse and coming back for preseason later that year and people genuinely thinking I was turning up drunk because of the slurring and way I was speaking. At that time neurologists had ruled everything out so you can only imagine what this does to you mentally when you know something is not right. I remember my last session at the club, no one knew it at the time but I left training that night and cried the whole way home. I just knew I had to step away, low and behold a few months later I was diagnosed.
It’s never easy letting go of things you love. I’ve consciously made the decision to not go back to the club and some people might not like that or understand it and that’s okay. But people like me go through a grieving period, and for a long time I was mourning the life I’d lost, to be truthful I don’t think I’ll ever stop mourning it but yesterday was a step in the right direction. I’ve got so many great memories of being at Frankston, and friendships that’ll last the rest of my lifetime so I’m glad my family and I were there yesterday.
For so many of us we spend so much effort in trying to force or create our path in life. For some like myself it just finds you. I’ve done many great things in my life but I don’t think any eclipse the role I can play in raising awareness and trying to help find a cure for MND. My new friend Bec Daniher said yesterday how good would it be in the future if someone is diagnosed with MND and a neurologist can turn around and say but it’s okay we can do X, Y and Z. This is what we are working towards, giving the future hope.
If you can spare a few bucks please donate to @runforrossy and keep a lookout for our online hoodie drop soon. As always,
