A few months ago, I received a phone call from DRFC to say that 512 Doncaster weren’t going to use their hospitality/sponsor package for the Colchester game and would like to donate it to a non-profit to use.
DRFC had thought of MHFC to give it to, and we gratefully accepted.
I came up with a list of 20+ people to give this experience to, but you can only have 10 per hospitality per game, in the future I hope to be able to give the remaining people on the list the same opportunity.
The list is made up of DRFC supporters and those who help run MHFC.
So we can give some DRFC supporters an experience they may not have had before or again in the future, and it’s a thank you to the people who help run MHFC.
On a personal note, it was one of my biggest anxiety triggers.
The last game I went to watch was many many years ago, and since then I’ve wanted to go and watch Rovers, but the anxiety block was so huge that I couldn’t do it.
It’s busy before, during and after the game, my mind can easily focus on my anxiety and get worse rather then on the game, you can just be sat in the cold, it isn’t easy to leave and get home quick if I’m struggling and it can be several hours that you’re out.
I’ve been wanting to go and watch Rovers for years with the ultimate goal of getting a season ticket, but the anxiety block was far too big.
The opportunity of a box was huge as it meant a lot of my anxiety triggers could be eased, it is a longer day, which doesn’t help my anxiety but the rest of the triggers are eased.
It means I’m also attending with people I know and who understand my anxiety which helps.
Because attending the game is so important to me it unfortunately makes my anxiety slightly worse as I really want to succeed and stay for the full duration, even though I know I can leave whenever, I want to do it so badly.
I’m putting so much pressure on myself to do it and stay.
So far this has been written before the game, I’m really hoping everything goes smoothly and well, I have a great time and so does everyone else, and it helps break some of the anxiety block around attending future games……. AND…..
HERE GOES…….
I was very anxious as I arrived in the car and feeling quite sick walking up to the entrance and then the box.
Once I got in the box and friends and family, I soon started to calm and the anxiety left.
I went on and enjoyed the stadium tour, which I was very anxious about and didn’t really want to go on but I’m really glad I did.
On the stadium tour I met MHFC supporter @Molynuex as well as @Sterry and @Bailey (and of course I gave MHFC wristbands to all the players I met).
Before the game Gaynor brought @McGrath to our box to present us with the signed shirt and have a photo with us and you guessed it…. I gave him a wristband!!
Gaynor, Jess and Suzanne did everything and anything to make the day as stress-free and anxiety-free for me.
I’m happy to say that I stayed for the full duration, ate the fantastic meal (if I’m really anxious, I can’t or struggle to eat), took part in everything and enjoyed the day.
We had our signed shirt presentation at the end with Bailey, and to top the day off, I got a photo with @Yungblud who also signed my MHFC shirt and I gave him a MHFC wristband!! 🙌
It was just a great day and experience, and the others loved it as well, which is great and what it’s all about 💚
THANKS TO….
A HUGE MENTION AND THANKS has to go to Gaynor, we first met properly at the Business Doncaster Show, and we immediately connected..
She was extremely supportive and wanted to support both me and MHFC as much as she could, she was the one to organise us getting us a box for the day as it wasn’t in the original sponsor package.
She was the one who called me about the hospitality and box opportunity, and a few days before the game she allowed me to visit the stadium and walk me through the day and see the box we’d be in.
She did everything in her power to give me the best chance to stay as calm as possible and stay at the game for the full duration.
I can’t thank her enough and show just how much what she’s done means to me and those who joined me in the box.
It’s people like Gaynor that you have to surround yourself with, people who support you and do as much for you as they can, so you can relax and do the best you can.
THANK YOU GAYNOR 🙌💚
A big thank you to Suzanne and Jess for looking after me throughout the day alongside Gaynor.
Thank you also to Richard Bastien and Gareth Simmons from 512 Doncaster for letting us use their hospitality/sponsor package for the day.
#MHFCExperience
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
‘MHFC EXPERIENCES’ are something we hope to do more of in the future, get more tickets to more games in the future and give them out to MHFC members through Spond or to anyone through our Facebook.
It could also be for stadium tours, meet and greets or anything else we can arrange.
We could even do it with other sports like Rugby, Ice Hockey, Tennis, Cricket etc.
The more we can do for people the better, give as many different people as many different opportunities and experiences as possible to give them a mental boost 🤞🙏
Maybe something they’ve never been able to attend before, but we can give them that opportunity 💚
‼️ If anyone has any links or contacts to people at sports clubs that could help us provide these experiences to our members please get in touch 😊
You can read about previous experiences here https://www.mentalhealthfc.org/category/mhfc-experiences/
If anyone or companies would like to support, donate to or sponsor MHFC please get in touch at hello@mentalhealthfc.org
