Arsenal Season Ticket Holder needs our support.

In November 2008, Hazel was diagnosed with a rare condition called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. This debilitating disease is a neurological disorder characterised by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. The disorder is caused by damage to the peripheral nerves' myelin sheath (the fatty covering that wraps around and protects nerve fibres). The result for Hazel was total paralysis.

Hazel was in Kings Hospital for five months while they treated her with numerous courses of immunoglobulin, chemotherapy & radiotherapy; by the time she left for her parent's house, she could not move. She spent over 2.5 years in a hospital bed in her parent's front room being cared for and was in and out of a rehabilitation centre. Slowly, with the help of her Physio she took her first steps, and after almost six years, she started to walk without anyone holding her. She now walks short distances with the aid of leg braces on both legs and walking sticks.

Hazel needs an electronic wheelchair daily to do her shopping, get outdoors, and take her dog, Barney, for his walks. She also actively takes Barney to Pets As Therapy visits in schools and Canine Concern Mental Health awareness days in Universities and a care home. Hazel also uses her chair indoors if she has fallen or feels unwell. Wheelchair services have told her she is not eligible for a replacement wheelchair because she doesn’t use it every day…. She needs a new wheelchair to maintain her independence.

Her Arsenal story is that her first game was in 1995 (probably because her family all support West Ham!) with a 2-0 win against Villa, but her love for Arsenal stepped up in 2006 when she became a season ticket holder at our brand-new stadium. She kept her ticket going during some challenging times away, fighting her illness.

If you go to games, you often realise that you have developed genuine friendships with the people around you. You share good and bad times; the good times are all the better when you have been through some lean years….. Arsenal has been great, helping her get back to the games by providing disability support on a match day. Now she can finally make it down the stairs, she is back sitting among her Arsenal family. Back in Block 11 enjoying her football.

So the financials. Hazel has already been fundraising and raised £2,200, but the wheelchair she needs is £3,995, so we are asking Arsenal or any football fans to help with the remaining amount. This wheelchair will ensure that Hazel keeps going to the Arsenal games and experiences the highs and lows.

If you can help with just a fiver or a tenner, then great; if not but you can share the link and the story, that would be wonderful.

If there is a season to keep going to see Arsenal play football, it has to be this year. This is a special team and Hazel is a special lady.

Block 11 Season ticket holders