Musgrave Mustangs raising funds to help young footballer Rye Fletcher return home after shock cancer diagnosis

An aspiring Gold Coast football star faces the battle of his life after being diagnosed with an incredibly rare, aggressive form of cancer.

Young Gold Coast football star Rye Fletcher.

A rising Gold Coast football star is facing the battle of his life after after being diagnosed with a deadly, incurable cancer at the age of 19.

Rye Fletcher was chasing his professional football dream in the United Kingdom with League Two clubs Port Vale and then Harrogate Town, where he was diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma, an incredibly rare cancer of the abdomen.

Around 70 cases are diagnosed in Australia per year, with a life expectancy of four-to-five years - though some have survived several years longer.

Before he moved to the UK, Fletcher was one of the bright prospects on the Gold Coast and starred for the Musgrave Mustangs FQPL under-23 side as a 17-year-old.

A GoFundMe campaign has already raised more than $43,000 to assist in Rye’s return to Australia for treatment surrounded by his friends and family.

Sarah Harris, team manager of the Musgrave under-13 team coached by Rye’s father Spencer, is managing the fundraising drive on behalf of the Fletcher family.

Young Gold Coast football star Rye Fletcher.

“They just want to get home so that they can get into the Gold Coast University Hospital and get the best possible care for Rye,” Harris said.

“Being surrounded by the love and support of his friends and family will make a huge difference to his mental health and emotional well being.

“He’s been living away from his family and friends for the last year and a half, so you can only imagine how that would be impacting on him as a teenager.

“He hasn’t been with his parents or his younger brother Dae, he hasn’t been with all his school friends.

“He went to Saint Stephen’s (College) and I know he’s got such a tight group of friends, I think there was something like 10 to 15 friends who came and farewelled him at the airport when he left for the UK. He’s such a friend to everybody.”

Within 24 hours of posting on June 6 the GoFundMe campaign had raised $20,000, with another $23,000 raised in the fortnight since.

Harris said the family had been “blown away” by the commnuity’s support.

“I was in shock that funds were raised so quickly but so happy that we could just do something to ease a bit of pressure for the Fletcher family,” Harris said.

“They’re a family who gives back to everyone consistently.

Young Gold Coast football star Rye Fletcher.

“The Fletchers are a strong family, they instil such good values in their own children and this overflows into the community.

“This is our third year with my son being on Spencer’s team and the Fletcher family feel like family to me now.”

Harris said Rye made an impact on and off the pitch during his time at Musgrave.

“He’s just got the most beautiful nature, when he would get to training early, he’d go and join in with the juniors and have a kick around with them,” she said

“He would jump into any game and any training session.

“He never acted above anyone or too experienced to join in with the younger children, he’s just got such a sweet nature.”

Anyone who wishes to donate to the cause can do so via his GoFundMe page.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/bring-rye-home-supporting-the-fletcher-family

Originally published as Musgrave Mustangs raising funds to help young footballer Rye Fletcher return home after shock cancer diagnosis