A talented young footballer from Milton Keynes who lost his life to a brain tumour almost five years ago has inspired a Premier League player.
Shay Patel was just 13 when he passed away from glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of the disease, in 2020. Now his idol, Chelsea FC’s Ben Chilwell, has met scientists who are at the forefront of improving treatment options and working towards a cure.
Ben, a patron of Milton Keynes-based Shay's Smiles charity, accompanied Shay's family to the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London.
A massive supporter of Chelsea FC, Shay idolised Ben, feeling a real connection with him because they both played for the same grassroots football club in Woburn – Woburn & Wavendon FC.
“Shay was massively into his football and arguably even more into supporting Chelsea,” his mum Niki O'Dea said, “He was always overjoyed to be able to go and watch them play, so it’s really special remembering how delighted Shay was when his hero Ben joined Chelsea just a few weeks before he passed away.
Niki added: “It meant so much to Shay’s dad, Deenu, and me when Ben agreed to become patron of Shay’s Smiles to help raise awareness. And just recently, we were blown away by Ben’s incredible donation of £25,000 to help fund the fight to find a cure.”
Ben said: “I am proud to have joined Shay’s Smiles to be a patron a couple of years ago and to continue supporting their great work, especially knowing how much football and Chelsea meant to Shay, as well as sharing that connection through our grassroots football.
“Until I met Niki and Deenu, I wasn’t aware how tough the outlook was for brain tumour patients. “It was shocking to discover that one in three children who die of cancer, is killed by a brain tumour.”
Dan Knowles, CEO of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are indebted to Shay’s Smiles for their incredible contribution towards funding the vital research being conducted at Queen Mary University of London.
“The team of scientists there is carrying out game-changing research which we are hopeful will lead to significant improvements in the care brain tumour patients receive and ultimately, find a cure for brain tumours. Shay’s family should be truly proud of the legacy they are creating in his memory.”
