'I was given 18 months to live' Bamber Bridge rugby player's 'Assassin' mission at Preston Grasshoppers

’I’ve nicknamed my cancer Donald’

Bamber Bridge rugby lock and referee Bruce Henderson raised an almighty £2,080.49 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation by organising a fundraising match for the charity at Preston Grasshoppers.

Lock and ref Bruce (centre standing in the white shirt) playing for Bruce’s Assassins in his fundraising match for Rosemere Cancer Foundation | Rosemere

placeholder image — Lock and ref Bruce (centre standing in the white shirt) playing for Bruce’s Assassins in his fundraising match for Rosemere Cancer Foundation | Rosemere

Bruce, 55, wanted to to “give back” for treatment he is currently receiving at Rosemere Cancer Centre for cancer of the stomach lining.

So he assembled Bruce’s Assassins to take on The Wyre Massive, teams made up not only of Grasshoppers’ players but also players from clubs throughout the North-West.

With a competitive rugby career spanning more than 40 years, Bruce, who now mainly referees, resumed his second row position to join the Assassins in the match’s second half, even scoring two tries.

Dad-of-two Bruce, who works as a project manager for tool and plant hire company HSS, said: “Towards the end of January, I made a GP appointment because I was experiencing stomach pain.

Bruce (third left), whose Assassins team won, leaves the field supported by players from both sides | Rosemere

“My own doctor was away so I saw a locum. He was concerned I might have appendicitis so arranged for me to go to the Royal Preston Hospital. I was taken for surgery but woke up still with my appendix to a diagnosis of cancer. A week later, I was at The Christie for further tests before being transferred back to Preston for my treatment.”

Bruce, who lives with partner Louise, continued: “Initially, I was given 18 months to live. I began chemotherapy and immunotherapy in Mid March, which is a mix of tablets – I take 11 tablets a day so I rattle – and regular infusions, which I receive at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.

“There are side-effects such as a bad taste in my mouth and spots but the treatment is keeping me alive. It’s working well and my oncologist, who I get on with great, may now even be able to consider surgery to help get rid of my cancer, which I’ve nicknamed Donald.

“My diagnosis was such a shock but after sorting my will and everything you do when you’re told you have cancer, I decided to adopt a positive mental attitude. I returned to work part-time in June and then began organising the match. I was overwhelmed by the response when I put a post on Facebook asking for players.”

On the Saturday before the game, the raffle that is part of the Grasshoppers’ first team hospitality and which usually supports the club’s social teams was dedicated to Rosemere Cancer Foundation. It raised £620, which was added to funds raised by a bucket collection taken at the Assassins’ game and donations to an online fundraising page Bruce had set up to support the match.

Scotland-born Bruce, who moved to England with his family in 1980 and to the Preston area in 2015 when he joined the Grasshoppers, added: “A huge thank you to everyone who played the match, came to watch – we had 120 spectators – and donated. It means so much.

“When I told people post-match that surgery was a now a possibility, there were huge cheers. Tears flowed when I was serenaded with ‘Flower of Scotland’ having announced that my aim is to organise and play in another Bruce’s Assassins game for Rosemere next year.”

Amy Hilton, marketing manager for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “Our thanks to Bruce and everyone who supported the match for this fantastic donation. We wish Bruce all the very best with his ongoing treatment and look forward to a cheering him on in his next year’s Assassins game.”

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and South Cumbria’s regional specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and also at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties, including that at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.

The charity funds the latest in cutting-edge equipment, clinical research, staff training and innovative services and initiatives that the NHS cannot afford in order to make patients' cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk