Amy’s Birthday
To celebrate what would have been our beautiful girl’s 23rd birthday we had a open house for the day, where friends and family could come and talk about Amy, have cake, light a candle and release a balloon with a birthday message for Amy. All whilst making generous donations. An amazing £600 was raised. Which was halved between Weston Park, and CLIC Sargent. Way more than we ever expected! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beth-Usher
Simmsey’s Walk
David, Elliot, Neil announced they would be undertaking the huge challenge of an 85 mile walk from Birmingham to Sheffield to support Weston Park. Amy had promised to be at the final few yards with them, even if being pushed along in her wheelchair. Unfortunately, Amy was not to be at the finish line. David and the boys were part way through the second day of walking when I had to make the call to him to say that Amy had gone. They powered on and completed the walk, returning to the Arena the following day. (Look North interview) 5 weirs walk (picture of...
EIHL 2014/15
Amy passed away on the Thursday 19th, but the weekend that followed was a big one in the hockey world. Simmsey, Neil and Elliot were arriving back at the arena on the Saturday, where the Steelers were playing Cardiff. The boys needed a win in regulation time to win the Elite league trophy. Tony had promised Amy just a few days before when he had visited her in Weston Park that if the boys were to win, the trophy was making its way to the hospital that night! Amy, as always, had every confidence in her boys. It all feels a bit of a blur to me now, walking into that arena without Amy, I was overwhelmed with support and condolences from the Steeler family. Simmsey gave a beautiful tribute to Amy at the start of the game, and the fans gave silence followed by...
POW 2014/15
Amy soon began to level a special relationship with our ‘hockey dad’ David Simms and then came the invitation to join him and Dean at the play off weekend in Nottingham. What a weekend it was! Lots of laughs. The weekend was above and beyond what Amy expected, treated like VIPs, celebrating with the players and families after the win, on the coach back to Sheffield, on the arena balcony, and holding the trophy. Such an experience. Not to mention the drinking until 5am at the Goertzens! Amy was in her...
The Beginning
The Sheffield Steelers played a huge role in Amy’s final time. The journey with ice hockey began in January 2014 when a trip was planned though the Teenage Cancer Unit. There was little interest from the other patients on the ward, other than Tom Flack and Amy, so I got invited me along too. It was a Sheffield Steelers vs. Nottingham Panthers game, and by the first period break, Amy turned to me and said “Oh my God, I love it!”. We then went to every home game, purchasing tickets for the following week as soon as we got home from the last. Amy had been telling the staff at the hospital how much she was loving it, so one of the nurses called the Steelers and arranged a VIP experience at the next game. Mike O Conner, the commercial manager,...