Ian ConstantineCancer tale an inspiration
December 5th 2008 04:51
South Sydney centre Jamie Simpson has tackled cancer and won – twice – and he brought an inspirational message of hope to special children to the NRL’s annual One Community Christmas party today.
Simpson was among 30 NRL players in bringing some much needed cheer to young patients from Sydney Children’s Hospital and Royal Randwick Children’s Hospital, along with children in the Lifeline program and those of Breast Cancer sufferers.
Simpson was 15 when first diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and after defeating the disease twice, he has spent a lot of time visiting the cancer community, which earned him a nomination for the prestigious Ken Stephen medal this year.
But Simpson has vowed to take his community work to a whole new level next year.
“I was actually stoked, I didn’t realise that I was up for the medal,” Simpson said.
“I got the Souths Cares award this year, but to be nominated for the Ken Stephen Medal was unreal.
“To be in there with the likes of Preston Campbell and all the blokes that do a lot of work in the community was awesome, because I don’t see myself doing that much.
“But this year I am actually going to kick it up a gear and do a lot more because I’ve been in the swing of things with training for a year now and I know what is going on. So I will have more time to concentrate on doing more things in the community.”
Simpson had an impressive debut season, in 11 games he made seven linebreaks and scored five tries.
His introduction into the Souths jersey coincided with a five-match winning streak that kept the Rabbitohs slim finals chances alive.
But it was his work off the field that really raised eyebrows.
“I love going out to the hospitals, Rugby League actually drives me to do it,” he said.
“To be in a situation that I am in is unbelievable, and to get out there and help people and be able to motivate them to get over their sickness is really special.
“Whether it be sick with cancer or whether they are doing it hard with money and all that kind of stuff, it’s not the same, but all it really comes down to is that positive thinking.
“If you are thinking I’m not going to get through this, then you are not giving yourself 100% chance to get through it.”
Simpson credits six-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett as a huge influence during his recovery.
“Wayne Bennett once told me that tough times come and go, but tough guys last forever,” Simpson said.
“It is the best piece of advice I have ever received.
“I think it was harder on my family than it was on me. Being so young you don’t really understand the magnitude of it.
“You go to the hospitals and you see the young kids sitting around playing the Xbox and it is the same sort of stuff I used to do.
“I used to go in there and not really take any notice of what was actually wrong with me, while the parents take the full brunt of it.
“They take it a lot harder than what you do, emotionally.”
Simpson is revelling in his new found profile as an NRL player and is looking to make the most of it.
So much so that he rushed back from a Souths training camp in Coffs Harbour just to be a part of it.
“I think it is really important to give something back as NRL players,” he said.
“Obviously I have been personally affected by illness, so I know what the kids are going through.
“The thing I say to a lot of them is that you have to keep your family close to you. It is the hardest thing you will go through in life and to keep positive really does help.
“Positive thought breeds positive energy and that kind of gets you through the hard times.
“If we can make a difference, even for one day, that will make the Christmas party on Friday worth while.”
Simpson was among 30 NRL players in bringing some much needed cheer to young patients from Sydney Children’s Hospital and Royal Randwick Children’s Hospital, along with children in the Lifeline program and those of Breast Cancer sufferers.
Simpson was 15 when first diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and after defeating the disease twice, he has spent a lot of time visiting the cancer community, which earned him a nomination for the prestigious Ken Stephen medal this year.
But Simpson has vowed to take his community work to a whole new level next year.
“I was actually stoked, I didn’t realise that I was up for the medal,” Simpson said.
“I got the Souths Cares award this year, but to be nominated for the Ken Stephen Medal was unreal.
“To be in there with the likes of Preston Campbell and all the blokes that do a lot of work in the community was awesome, because I don’t see myself doing that much.
“But this year I am actually going to kick it up a gear and do a lot more because I’ve been in the swing of things with training for a year now and I know what is going on. So I will have more time to concentrate on doing more things in the community.”
Simpson had an impressive debut season, in 11 games he made seven linebreaks and scored five tries.
His introduction into the Souths jersey coincided with a five-match winning streak that kept the Rabbitohs slim finals chances alive.
But it was his work off the field that really raised eyebrows.
“I love going out to the hospitals, Rugby League actually drives me to do it,” he said.
“To be in a situation that I am in is unbelievable, and to get out there and help people and be able to motivate them to get over their sickness is really special.
“Whether it be sick with cancer or whether they are doing it hard with money and all that kind of stuff, it’s not the same, but all it really comes down to is that positive thinking.
“If you are thinking I’m not going to get through this, then you are not giving yourself 100% chance to get through it.”
Jamie Simpson
Simpson credits six-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett as a huge influence during his recovery.
“Wayne Bennett once told me that tough times come and go, but tough guys last forever,” Simpson said.
“It is the best piece of advice I have ever received.
“I think it was harder on my family than it was on me. Being so young you don’t really understand the magnitude of it.
“You go to the hospitals and you see the young kids sitting around playing the Xbox and it is the same sort of stuff I used to do.
“I used to go in there and not really take any notice of what was actually wrong with me, while the parents take the full brunt of it.
“They take it a lot harder than what you do, emotionally.”
Simpson is revelling in his new found profile as an NRL player and is looking to make the most of it.
So much so that he rushed back from a Souths training camp in Coffs Harbour just to be a part of it.
“I think it is really important to give something back as NRL players,” he said.
“Obviously I have been personally affected by illness, so I know what the kids are going through.
“The thing I say to a lot of them is that you have to keep your family close to you. It is the hardest thing you will go through in life and to keep positive really does help.
“Positive thought breeds positive energy and that kind of gets you through the hard times.
“If we can make a difference, even for one day, that will make the Christmas party on Friday worth while.”
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