Supporters are encouraged to donate to the Just Giving page of Louise Stewart, wife of Ipswich Town legend Marcus Stewart, who was diagnosed with MND last month. Stewart was Darrell Clarke’s assistant manager at Bristol Rovers and Walsall and Ellis Harrison’s coach at the Memorial Stadium.
- Port Vale raising awareness for Darby Rimmer Foundation at Tuesday’s match with Ipswich Town
- Club raising awareness for Darby Rimmer Foundation, the charity set up by former Liverpool and Bradford City defender Stephen Darby and his close friend Chris Rimmer, both of whom have been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
- Ipswich Town legend Marcus Stewart, who was Darrell Clarke’s assistant manager at Bristol Rovers and Walsall – as well as Ellis Harrison’s coach at the Memorial Stadium - was diagnosed with MND last month
We will be raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and supporting fundraising for the Darby Rimmer Foundation on Tuesday evening at our League One fixture with Ipswich Town, with players warming up in Darby Rimmer Foundation t-shirts, while Darrell Clarke and his backroom staff will wear Darby Rimmer Foundation pin badges.
The Darby Rimmer Foundation was set up by former Liverpool and Bradford City defender Stephen Darby and his close friend Chris Rimmer, both of whom have been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Last month, the football world was saddened to learn that Ipswich Town legend Marcus Stewart had been diagnosed with MND. Stewart was Darrell Clarke’s assistant manager at both Bristol Rovers and Walsall and coached the Vale’s top goalscorer Ellis Harrison during their time at the Memorial Stadium.
Vale striker Ellis Harrison celebrates with Marcus Stewart during their time together at Bristol Rovers (Keith Brookman/Bristol Rovers FC)
Speaking about Stewart in Tuesday’s official match programme, striker Ellis Harrison said:
“When I first met Stewy, I was a first-year professional that was pushed aside to the Academy and U23 squad.
“The rest is history, with the two promotions we achieved. He is a guy that has always wanted more from me, even more so when I am going through a good spell.
“What I mean by that is that you can be getting all of the outside praise but when you have someone like Marcus Stewart saying ‘I still need this from you’, you can’t argue, and over the years I have become really good friends with Stewy.
“If I did come out of my lane and got carried away by scoring goals, I know the first person on the phone would be Stewy.
“I have spoken with Stewy since his diagnosis and he is positive; he has had a positive outlook on everything in life since I have known him and I wish him nothing by the best. He is a great friend and moving forward hopefully we can raise money and awareness, not just for him, but for the condition and with a stroke of luck we can help towards finding a cure.”
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO LOUISE STEWART’S JUSTGIVING PAGE
Speaking about raising awareness and funds, Vale manager Clarke added:
“Marcus is a very good friend of mine; he was my assistant and Bristol Rovers and Walsall.
“It is an awful condition. I recently went for a bite to eat with both him and his wife and we will be supporting and fundraising as best as we can.
“I send my love to Marcus and his family. I know he is a strong character, he will keep fighting and as much as we can do as a club for the charity, we will.”
Darrell Clarke and Marcus Stewart worked together at both Bristol Rovers and Walsall.
Stewart hopes to use his platform to raise funds and awareness of MND, to fund and assist research into the illness with the quest of finding a cure, to raise funds and offer grants to those with MND, as well as creating a network to help provide information and an emotional support network for those diagnosed with the disease.
Ipswich Town legend Marcus Stewart.
Stewart’s wife, Louise, has created a Just Giving fundraising page, with all funds directed to the Darby Rimmer Foundation. If each supporter in the stadium on Tuesday night donated just £1, we could take the Stewart family over 25% of their fundraising target.