Match raises funds for terminally ill dad’s family holiday

Staff and students at Bishop Auckland College have raised more than £1,200 in a charity football match for a terminally ill dad to help fund a final family holiday for his young daughters.

They decided to make war hero Dominic (Dom) Gregory the beneficiary of the annual staff v students fixture, held at Heritage Park – the home of Bishop Auckland FC – last Friday night.

Dom, 28, from Bishop Auckland, served for eight years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Royal Horse Artillery as a regimental physical training instructor, including a seven month tour of Afghanistan.

But after two random seizures last year, a scan and biopsy revealed he had Stage 4 Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and doctors said he had only 18 to 24 months to live.

Dom is hoping to be well enough to take his daughters Lily, five, and Reign, two, to Disneyland Paris but can’t afford the full cost.

His brothers Alex and James, former sports students at the college, were contacted by Head of Sport Andrew Dixon who had heard about Dom’s illness and asked if the match could be a fundraiser for him.

They agreed and Andrew spoke to Steve Coulthard, Chairman of Bishop Auckland FC, who offered the full facilities of Heritage Park for the game.

Having recently completed a full round of treatment, Dom was due to attend on Friday night but unfortunately had a further seizure just before the fixture and had to be rushed to hospital, but he is recovering well.

Alex and third brother Daniel both played in the match but James, an Operations Lead for AECOM which helps service and maintain equipment for the US Army, was unable to attend, having been drafted to Poland as part of the Ukraine effort.

Alex, Dom’s twin, said after the match: “I would like to thank everyone for the turnout – it was heart-warming to see what a small community like this can pull together and achieve.

“Personal thanks go to Andrew Dixon for organising the event and all from Bishop Auckland College who took part, and to Steve Coulthard and Bishop Auckland Football Club for the use of the function room and facilities.

“Special thanks also to Katy Dixon (HE Development Co-ordinator) for organising the fundraising and the raffles - you can see how much work and thought has gone in and we really appreciate every ounce of effort. It was a fantastic event and an exciting game which finished 5-4 to the students and was very worthy of the cause.”

Anyone wishing to donate towards the holiday appeal can do so via the Justgiving website at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alex-gregory-2?utm_term=62BgMYX3j

Photos:
Dom Gregory with daughters Lily and Reign. The staff and student teams line up before the charity match and former BAC sport student Sean Carr during the game. Match photos by BAFC official match photographer Joe Gorman.