“Without Sheffield Children’s Hospital, there’s no way I’d be where I am today,” says budding tennis star

Now training full-time in Spain and with a host of accolades already under his belt, it’s difficult to imagine that Sheffield-born George’s career was almost over before it began.

At 12 years old, George had only just begun entering youth competitions when he started to feel pain and tingling in his lower back and legs.

George, now 19 from Dore, recalls: “It’s difficult to describe, but I didn’t feel normal. My hamstrings had tightened, and the sensation was like having very painful pins and needles.

“On bad days I couldn’t sit, stand or walk properly. It continued for around 18 months and varied in intensity. I hid it because I wanted to keep playing, I was always in pain.”

Dad Howard admits: “George was in such a state, but it took a while for us as parents to accept what was happening. I was very sporty too and I’d never had back problems so I just couldn’t relate to what George was describing.”

George was taken to Sheffield Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. The condition is where one of the bones in your spine, known as a vertebra, slips out of position. Scans also revealed two slipped discs.

Clinicians at the hospital were concerned about operating, given the potential risk of serious complications including damage to the spinal nerves or cord. However, George’s condition continued to deteriorate over the following weeks and surgery was the only option.

Six three-inch screws were inserted at the base of his spine to correct the issue. Remarkably, George spent just one day in hospital at Sheffield Children’s before being discharged home.

It would take around six months before he could return to full fitness, with a training programme that involved gradually more intensive play on the court and restoring the strength in his hamstrings with exercises from home.

Today, George has a serve of over 120mph, has been the reigning Yorkshire doubles champion for the past two years and pursues his dream career training at the Escola Tennis Mataro centre in Barcelona.

George explains: “Without the operation at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, there’s absolutely no way I would be where I am today. I honestly believe I would likely be in a wheelchair, instead I’m able to pursue my dream.”

Dad Howard continues: “We don’t know where his tennis will take him, but we can’t wait to find out! Thanks to Sheffield Children’s, we do know that he’ll be playing tennis for the rest of his life as it’s what he loves to do. When we were talking about who we could support, there was only one choice. It’s time to give something back.”

To say thank you, George has embarked upon a 36-hour challenge to raise money for The Children’s Hospital Charity. At 6am on Saturday (May 23rd), George will run 1.75km on the hour, every hour until 6pm the following day. In total, he is set to run 63km, the equivalent of one-and-a-half marathons.

The challenge was inspired by family friend Jo Wood, who completed a similar feat in Vancouver for a local foodbank, raising an incredible $45,000. George will be joined throughout by friends and family to keep him company. He also has set a fundraising target of £5,000 for the Charity’s COVID-19 appeal.

Money raised by The Children’s Hospital Charity at this time will help to ensure there is no long-term impact in charitable support for Sheffield Children’s, ensuring that the hospital’s ongoing and evolving needs continue to be met through this crisis and beyond

George continued: “Times are very difficult at the moment for the NHS staff and The Children’s Hospital Charity have had to cancel so many of their fundraising events to help Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

“I just want to give a little back doing the one thing their service, help and dedication has allowed me to do - be as active as I can possibly be.”

To support George’s challenge, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/george-myers1

The coronavirus pandemic has seen many fundraising events cancelled or postponed, all of which were due to raise vital funds for Sheffield Children’s. As a result, The Children’s Hospital Charity’s fundraising has declined by more than 60%, which in turn limits the impact of charitable support for the amazing staff and their work at the hospital.

If you would like to make a donation to the charity’s COVID-19 Appeal and support patients and staff at Sheffield Children’s at this unprecedented time, you can donate online at www.tchc.org.uk, call 0114 321 2470 or text SHEFFCHILDRENS to 70085 to donate £5. This costs £5 plus your standard message rate.

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