A GIRL who died just aged 10 will be honoured this weekend at Wrexham AFC’s Racecourse ground with a special collection during their home tie with Aldershot Town.
Megs Whieldon, of Dyserth, suffered from a rare genetic condition. Since February 2020, she attended Tŷ Gobaith hospice in Conwy with her family for therapy sessions but the youngster sadly died in March 2022.
Her younger brother Dan continues to be supported by the hospice.
The Whieldon family are huge Wrexham AFC fans and even hold season tickets for The Dragons.
In conjunction with the club, volunteers and fundraisers from Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices will be at the match on Saturday, November 19 (3pm kick-off) with collection buckets and every pound donated by fans will be match-funded by the hospices’ Final Moments Matter campaign.
Sue Whieldon, Meg's mum, paid tribute to her daughter.
She said: “Megs really loved the football, the build-up, the music, the atmosphere and being part of a crowd.
“We went to our first match in 2016 and were made to feel so at home there and really part of the Wrexham family.
“In 2019, both the kids got to be mascots on the pitch with the team which was the highlight of the year for them.
“Megs won’t be with us on the day, but she’ll be there in spirit, definitely.
“She would have loved all the magic that is around the club at the moment.
“We are so grateful to everyone at Wrexham AFC for allowing Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith to hold a collection in tribute to Megs. We are especially grateful to the Disabled Supporters Association, who from day one have bent over backwards to help us.
“It’s a real privilege to know that people at the club and the fans would donate in Megs’ memory, at the place where she loved spending time. It feels like an honour.
“Football has been the thing that has helped keep Dan going since Megs passed away.
“We went to the game a few weeks after she left us because Dan feels equally at home at The Racecourse – he is surrounded by love there.”
Sharing just one of the many memorable days at the club, Sue said: “We were very lucky to have met both Ryan Reynolds and Rob McEllhenney there.
“I told Rob about Megs’ story and he said that she sounded like a real firecracker – she certainly was.”
READ MORE:
- Wrexham AFC better Premier League sides as interest in Reds continues to grow
- 'Cymru am byth and up the town'! - Rob and Ryan's epic speech as they pick up award
A spokesperson for Wrexham AFC said: “Megs was a much-loved member of our Wrexham AFC community and is sadly missed at the Racecourse Ground.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to have got to know Megs and her family as they have been season ticket holders for many years, a beautiful little girl, who will be forever 10, who adored sparkle and enjoyed her time watching Wrexham AFC with brother Dan and mum and dad, she is sadly missed.
“The work Hope House and Tŷ Gobiath do for people in our community is incredible, and very much needed, and we are proud to be able to offer them support through a bucket collection again this year.
“All our bucket collections are well supported on match-days at the Racecourse, and we would like to thank everyone in advance of any contribution they make to the Final Moments Matter campaign.”
Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Catrin Dowdeswell, who has helped to coordinate Saturday’s collection, said: “On behalf of everyone at the hospices I would like to thank Wrexham FC’s Disability Liaison Officer, Kerry Evans for her incredible support in making this happen, and also the Whieldons for joining with us in this very special tribute to Megs.”
Final Moments Matter is an annual campaign run by Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith which sees them aim to raise £500,000 in just a 36 hour period between Sunday, November 20 and Monday, November 21, 2022.
£500,000 is the annual cost of providing the best end of life care to children and families in the area, and thanks to the generosity of some key benefactors, this year the hospices have a £250,000 match-funding pot available which means they can meet every donation pound-for-pound to reach their target.
Find out more and become a fundraising team leader at www.hopehouse.org.uk/forms/final-moments-matter-team-leader-registration
The Whieldon family have set up a Just Giving page. Visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/megswhieldon-fmm
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here