AFC Totton
Abby’s Heroes is a small charity formed in Southampton nine years ago to help and support children with cancer and their families across the South Coast.
The charity was founded in 2017 by Sally Randall in memory of her daughter, Abby. Abby was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, when she was eight years old. Over the following years, Abby underwent 23 rounds of chemotherapy, 50 days of radiotherapy, stem cell harvesting, numerous scans, cannulas, drains, intensive care stays, and pioneering surgery to remove the tumour from her clavicle and replace the missing bone with her second toe and main metatarsal from her right foot. Abby smiled and laughed all the way to her final moments before slipping away in May 2016.
Abby’s Heroes was created with the aim of helping and supporting children and their families who come under the care of the Piam Brown Ward and the Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) Unit at Southampton General Hospital. The catchment area for these wards covers the whole of the South of England, including Southampton, Totton, and the New Forest.
A child’s life is completely taken over by the diagnosis of cancer, and their family’s world is thrown into chaos and panic as they watch their child endure the rigours of treatment. Abby’s Heroes was set up entirely with this in mind.
The charity offers practical help through financial grants to support families during difficult times. Bereaved families may also receive grants to give parents time to grieve. The charity provides days out and memory-making grants, allowing families the chance to spend time together and create cherished memories.
As a small, local charity, we can only continue to support children with cancer and their families through the generosity and kindness of our supporters. Every donation we receive genuinely helps to make a difference.
We are extremely grateful to AFC Totton for enabling us to make a collection at today’s match and for helping us spread the word about our work to a wider audience.
