Pan Community FC has raised close to £2,000 to help pay the medical and travel expenses of their manager Steve Case and a chaperone.
Steve – also affectionately known as ‘Caser’) has been battling cancer and has recently suffered a series of heart attacks. His care and treatment are on the mainland, and the transport costs are high.
Mr Case is highly respected in Island football. He has been associated with Pan Community FC for over half a century. Last season, Pan achieved great success, winning the 2nd Division title, the Junior ‘A’ Cup, and the Hampshire Vase.
‘Caser’ is not well enough to travel alone and should avoid using public transport as his immune system is compromised. He, therefore, needs to pay the costs of a chaperone to go with him.
Pan Community and Steve’s assistant 1st team coach Josh Davies has said:
“For all those that know Steve (AKA Caser), you will know he has been battling cancer and the aggressive treatment involved with trying to fight it. Pairing that with his recent heart attacks, he has not been a well man.
“Steve’s care and treatment has almost all been on the mainland and with no help towards the forever rising ferry and transport costs, Steve and his family are struggling to afford the costs involved in regular appointments across the water and have been told they are not entitled to any help financially from various support networks within the NHS.
Article continues below this advertisement “Steve can be a stubborn man, and throughout his treatment has never wanted to miss a game and will do what he can to be at the pitch side on a Saturday for his beloved Pan FC. Recently, he has had to miss a few games simply because he has had no energy or has been in hospital undergoing treatment/monitoring.
“Our aim is to raise enough money to help ensure Steve is able to attend all medical appointments and get back to a more comfortable condition, so that he can be reunited with his love for football and once again be heard from the side lines, shouting: ‘YOU’RE IN NIPPER !!’
“Steve is a huge part and a well-known face within the Island’s football community and beyond. Any donation, however small it may be, will help him and his family massively over the next few challenging months.”
Steve’s GoFundMe page can be found here.
The family of Steve Case would like Island Echo readers to know they are aware they are not the only Island family having trouble meeting expenses for travelling costs for medical treatment on the mainland.
Daisy Chains supports the costs of travel for Isle of Wight children needing off-Island medical treatment. Their JustGiving page may be found here.
Such a lovely family too.
Lovely story, although it shouldn’t have to be raised, ferries should be free for medical treatment especially cancer, surely they make enough profit to let islanders travel free for these appointments. Would be interesting to know how many people a day travel over for cancer treatment.