Tim Southey presents his final shirt of the WTC finals at the auction for the treatment of 8-year-old Holly’s cancer
With a great gesture, New Zealand pacer Tim Southee auctioned his final match of the World Testing Championship (WTC) to help an 8-year-old child suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer called neuroblastoma.
Southee, who registered bowling figures of 4 for 48 after dismissing openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the 2nd innings, in his message on the auction site, appealed to bid for the shirt he donned in the historic Test match which his team won by 8 wickets.
“This auction is for one of my Test worn shirts from the ICC World Test Championship Final against India signed by the full WTC squad. All proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting Hollie Beattie and her ongoing medical treatment.
“My family first learned about Hollie’s story a couple of years ago through the cricket community and I have always been struck by the Beattie family’s perseverance, strength and positive attitude. Since hearing that Hollie required more treatment I have been trying to find a way to support in some small way,” Southee wrote.
“I am hopeful that this shirt can help contribute in someway to the Beattie family’s ongoing medical needs as Hollie continues to fight. As a parent my heart goes out to them as they battle on.
“The Beattie family’s strength serves as a great reminder that whatever we may go through on the cricket field with success and failure it’s nothing compared to the challenges faced by those suffering with their health like Hollie.
“Any bid big or small is greatly appreciated!” Southee added.
Following a number of devastating setbacks, including having the cancer return as a brain tumour after the removal of the main tumour, a round of chemotherapy and beating the disease in her bone marrow only to have it return, Hollie and her father John are currently in Spain for treatment, while Hollie’s mother Jo and big brother William are also in MIQ managed isolation where Tim Southee is also stationed after returning from Southampton.
The Spain treatment was initially for a trial to target the cancer in her brain and spinal fluid but in yet another blow, Hollie’s bone marrow relapsed and she had to be removed from the trial.
Hollie is now undergoing immunotherapy for relapsed Neuroblastoma in bone marrow but it comes at an astronomical cost and she may be in Spain for the remainder of the year.
By Tuesday morning the auction, which closes at 8.15 pm (New Zealand time) on July 8, was up to $7000 after 152 bids.
