Town legend becomes patron of cancer charity

George Burley revealed last September that he was being treated for cancer

An Ipswich Town legend says it is important not to take health for granted after becoming a patron of a local cancer charity.

George Burley, who played for and managed the Tractor Boys, revealed last September that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

He has since been given the all clear - and has now joined forces with Cancer Support Suffolk to help support other people diagnosed with any form of the disease.

Speaking to the BBC, he said it was a privilege to have become a patron for the organisation, which he described as "so important".

"At the moment I am all fine, I haven't got any cancer in my body, so that's good, but with the cancer I have got it can come back, so you have to be strong," he said.

"But not everyone is as lucky and they will feel lost and will want people to speak to, so this charity is fantastic and a great thing, so long may it continue.

"The more you can talk about it and the more we can help to help people the better - you cannot do it yourself, you do need help, whether that is from charity or family."

Burley has become an Ipswich Town legend, having played for and managed the club

The 69-year-old, who now attends scans and check-ups every three weeks, played for Ipswich from 1973 to 1985 and managed the side between 1994 and 2002, securing promotion to the Premier League in that time.

Throughout his treatment, which included bouts of chemotherapy, he received support from both the club and its fans, and still made sure he got along to home games.

"The most important thing is to be positive, even when I had a long time in hospital, I knew my wife and children would want me to be cheery and positive," he said.

"Sometimes I would see youngsters getting chemotherapy and that made me feel sad but very lucky, because there's always someone worse off than yourself.

"You don't know what is happening tomorrow, so it is very important to wake up and think it is a good day – don't look back, look forward."

Elizabeth Love-Mott said the charity provided a vital service for people who had been diagnosed with cancer and needed someone other than family to talk to

Cancer Support Suffolk helps patients – and their families – in a variety of ways, through counselling, therapies, education, and giving them someone to talk to.

"I found the charity to be a warm and welcoming place which was so supportive and fantastic," says Elizabeth Love-Mott, 66, who has since become a volunteer for the charity.

"I love doing stuff for the charity and do as much as I can to try and help other people, because if you can help one person in a year that person might feel better.

"Hopefully, with George, we can now go forward with the charity and make it is even bigger."

Mark Murphy is the chief executive of Cancer Support Suffolk

Mark Murphy, chief executive of the charity, agreed that having Burley on board would help raise the profile of the charity "no end".

"Cancer affects everyone, it does not discriminate, even a super fit person like George can contract cancer," he said.

Every single day we are giving people their dignity, helping them, and lifting them back up again.

"But I am hoping by having George on board we will be able to reach and help many more people."