How East Bentleigh Soccer Club was inspired by brave Riley Sinclair
Sports mad Riley Sinclair was a stranger to East Bentleigh Soccer Club until its head coach discovered the eight-year-old’s brave story six months ago. What the club did next has earnt it a Pride of Australia nomination.
Inner South
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A Bentleigh East boy’s brave battle against leukaemia has touched a sporting community so greatly a local soccer club will not take to the ground without the eight-year-old by their side.
Sports mad Riley’s world came crashing down last October when doctors told him he had to indefinitely quit all his favourite contact activities after he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
His mother Tammy Sinclair said the shocking news came after Riley — who had just signed up to play in basketball — suffered an eye injury from a velcro toy he won at the Seymour Show.
“He was playing around with it and it hit him in the eye,” she said.
“He woke up the next day and he had a black eye.
“I thought that was normal, but in the evening that side of his face started to slant.”
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Ms Sinclair took Riley to the doctor, who suspected he may have hit a facial nerve.
But the next day she received a worried call from Riley’s school to say he had a high temperature and was complaining of jaw pain.
“We went straight to the emergency room — they did blood tests and MRIs (and) thought he had broken his eye socket,” Ms Sinclair said.
“We were in there from 1pm until midnight — later, the senior doctor came in … he was white as a sheet (and) they said to me, your son has leukaemia.”
Riley — Ms Sinclair’s only child — had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the aggressive and rare T-cell strain of the disease.
He was pulled out of year 2 at Bentleigh East’s St Peter’s Primary School and started chemotherapy at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Ms Sinclair said the support from the hospital and school was “amazing”, with teachers and pupils regularly visiting her son and teaching him the lessons he missed out on each week.
Ms Sinclair said Riley, an avid Sydney Swans fan, remained stoic throughout.
“Everyone would say they were sorry this happened to Riley, but he just said back that it was fine,” she said.
“You wouldn’t know he was sick — he was running around the wards like a loony.
“He kept saying, ‘it’s curable’ and he was fine … I had a seven-year-old with a 12-year-old’s brain.”
Little did she know Riley’s infectious energy was soon to spread beyond the wards of the Peter Mac.
HOW A BOY INSPIRED A SPORTING COMMUNITY
Six months ago Riley was merely a stranger to East Bentleigh Soccer Club.
Now, the senior team won’t take the field without their mascot by its side.
Coach Jason Hart said he read Riley’s story on Facebook.
“I asked if he wanted to come down to a game … he did, and he loved it,” he said.
“He’s a bit of a celebrity in the community now.”
The tiny trouper is the “inspiration” for Mr Hart’s 16-man squad, often jumping eagerly from his Monash Medical Centre bed to make it on time for mascot duties on Saturday afternoons.
“The boys love seeing him before the game — he’s part of the whole pre-match set up,” Mr Hart said.
“He’s just a young kid full of life and energy — despite the countless operations and treatments, he still shows up every weekend with a smile.”
Ms Sinclair said the support from the soccer club was hard to describe.
“They’re amazing — (the club) has taken him under their wing … when we’ve had a hard week or when he’s been sick, it’s really good for him to get down there,” she said.
“I can just relax, take a break and know they have him — he stays and has dinner with them and goes into the changerooms.
“I’m used to being the one who helps others, so it’s nice to have others helping you.”
The positive experience spurred the soccer club on to help more ill children.
It is now rallying around Ben, 5, who has been left severely disabled due to rare chromosome disorder XQ28 duplication, and young Will, who has a life threatening brain tumour.
The soccer community came together in late August for “Riley’s Kicking Goals”, a fundraiser where players from East Bentleigh and Kings Domain came together to shave their heads and endure tear-inducing body waxing, which brought in almost $20,000 for the boys.
Kings Domain presented Riley with a signed shirt, while his home team gave him a full playing kit.
East Bentleigh’s support of Riley has earned the club a nomination for the Pride of Australia awards, honouring those who make an inspiring or selfless contribution to the community.
But it hasn’t stopped there.
More groups reached out in support through the Bentleigh community Facebook page, inlcuding Chesterville Dental Group, which selling exclusive Bentleigh 3195 key chains and stickers, and cakemakers, such as Michelle Arbel and For An Angel Cake, who donated birthday cakes.
Black Salt Cafe introduced a donation tin, local dumpling king Nawang Choden ran a dumpling masterclass fundraiser, and Coatesville Bowling Club ran a bogan bingo night.
HOW A SPORTING COMMUNITY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Almost one year on from his diagnosis, Ms Sinclair said Riley was slowly but surely getting back to his old self.
He has a long way to go, but has entered the maintenance stage of his treatment and is attending chemotherapy sessions once a month.
“He’s doing pretty well and is on the way up,” Ms Sinclair said.
“He’s starting to get his energy back and become his old self again.
Now the soccer season is over, Riley will continue his monthly treatment and be monitored as he takes steps towards getting back to school full-time next year.
Mr Hart said he couldn’t wait to see Riley back on the field and would stay in contact during the holidays.
“He’s already talking about catching up with the guys and asking when the season starts again,” he said.
“Our aim is to one day have him playing for the junior side.”
Mr Hart said the youngster’s spirit had not only struck a chord in the senior group but also inspired the entire close-knit suburb.
“I think everyone is inspired by him — he’s eight years old and has lost his hair … seeing him just being happy is great to see,” he said.
“We’ve realised the importance of community and he’s been instrumental in that.
“Everyone’s so keen to help him — they’ve really got behind him.”
Ms Sinclair said she was just happy to see her boy continuing to grow into his old self.
“(School) is something he can get back into — I just want to see my little monkey getting back into it,” she said.
“It’s definitely been a journey … but we’re going to come out on the other side.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-for-riley-and-his-family
Nominations are now open for the Pride Of Australia Awards.
You can nominate someone who is making an inspiring or selfless contribution to the community at prideofaustralia.com.au