Second charity cup will honour teen footballer who died from one in a billion brain tumour
A brave East Kilbride teenager who lost his battle with a rare brain cancer will be remembered in a charity football match later this month.
Max Jones passed away at Kilbryde Hospice on July 13, 2023 - just nine days after his 19th birthday.
At 17 Max was the youngest patient to receive palliative care at Kilbryde Hospice after being diagnosed with a "one in a billion" glioblastoma diagnosis that had claimed the lives of both his mum and gran.
Honouring his memory, best friends Aidan McCabe and Aiden Farrell set up the Max Jones Charity Cup last year, an annual celebration of his life, which raised an incredible £13k for Kilbryde Hospice in memory of their heroic friend.
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After last year's success the organisers are now expanding the upcoming event to include four teams: MXJ United, Kilbryde FC, Max XI and Buckfast Rovers which are made up of Max's friends and old teammates at Claremont AFC, EKYC and East Kilbride Thistle.
This year's tournament will take place on June 28 at Kirktonholme's Enviro Clean Stadium.
Aiden Farrell said: "We host this event in memory of Max Jones who sadly died after a year long battle with a glioblastoma brain tumour.
"Max was an energetic, fit young man who was always playing football with a football club or with friends. He spent many years playing with EKYC so to use their venue is a touching tribute to the player he was.
"Max spent six months under the care of the amazing inpatient unit at Kilbryde Hospice where the care and compassion was incredible. Kilbryde staff not only cared for Max but also for all his friends and family, providing some memories that will last a lifetime."
In the summer of 2022, Max was given the same devastating cancer diagnosis that claimed the lives of both his mum and gran.
Heartbreakingly, he was given just weeks to live when he was admitted to the Kilbryde Hospice with the "one in a billion" series of deadly brain tumours at the beginning of last year.
A professional cookery student and keen footballer, Max had just won the Claremont AFC 2004s coaches' player of the year when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma aged 17. He also played for EKYC and East Kilbride Thistle over the years.
He had started getting headaches and pains in his legs and the pain became so unbearable he went to Hairmyres Hospital where a CT and MRI scan discovered the 'aggressive' stage 4 tumour on his brain.
Max's gran Margaret O'Kane, from Wishaw, died from glioblastoma in October 2008, aged 66, and his mum Angie Jones, from East Kilbride, died from the disease just 14 months later, aged 36.
Max was the youngest patient to receive palliative care at Kilbryde Hospice.
Aidan added: "I was a close friend of Max's and spent almost every day up at the hospice while he was under their care. To see the treatment that patients receive first-hand is unbelievable and I will never forget all the things they did for us and they continue to be a great support to the whole friend group.
"The hospice gave Max a new lease of life at a time where there was no hope left in his battle with cancer and for that we are eternally grateful. "So come along on June 28 to Enviro Clean Stadium and support your local hospice. They need us and we will never know when we might need them."
Tickets for the event cost £5 and gates will open at 11am with the first kick off at 12pm.
The tournament will consist of four games, two semi-finals, a third place playoff and a final with the final set to finish close to 5pm.
Raffle tickets will be on sale throughout the day for £1 and supporters can also have a go at a tombola which will be £1 for three shots.
Entertainment for the kids on the day will include a penalty shoot-out.
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