Keeper Trevor on the ball to help save Melaine’s life

30 March 2016

SAVING is all part of the life of Northern Ireland goalkeeper Trevor Carson from Killyleagh.

Saving goals is his day and night job and he has been outstanding for Hartlepool United, including three beauties at Newport County last week.

But he is also aiming now to save a life, or certainly help save a life.

The 28 year-old is looking to raise funds for Melanie Hartshorn, who needs life-saving surgery in the United States.

She is Trevor’s sister-in-law and he has pledged to raise as much cash as he can and lift the profile of the little-known condition.

Melanie suffers from Ehlors Danlos syndrome, which has caused a lot of her joints to dislocate, especially the spine and neck. Bed-ridden for many years and suffering multiple seizures every day, Melanie’s condition has worsened and Trevor says the family are desperate to raise money to send her to the USA.

Trevor, perhaps inspired by the pre-season army camp Hartlepool went on, has appealed for people to back him on a 10km assault course in the summer.

“It’s at Whitley Bay, a 10 kilometre beach assault course,” he said. “It’s the only thing I could find that’s out of season. I had looked at the Great North Run, but that’s during the season.

“We went to Catterick Garrison in pre-season so maybe that will put me in good stead for the challenge. I’ll have to give Ronnie Moore a call and thank him for that.

My sister-in-law is one of the worst cases in the world. She’s in a bad way. She needs a life-saving operation for it and she needs to get to America for it and it’s going to cost £130,000 to get her there and get the operation,” he added.

“It can’t be done in the UK. I know, obviously, I’m not going to raise that much, but it’s about raising the awareness of it and getting it out there in the public domain. It’s a bit of a last-case scenario now, needs must, and we need to spread the awareness of it. Once the fundraising starts, hopefully it will gather momentum and have a bit of a snowball effect.

“I hope to help that and my aim is to raise £1,000 on my Just Giving page and it’s on my Twitter and Facebook pages.

“Hopefully, the joys of social media hopefully will get it out there.

“She has been bed-ridden since the age of 12, she can’t sit up, she can’t do anything but lie down 24/7 and it’s not a great way to be. It’s got to the point now where she’s having around 50 seizures every single day.

“She’s in a certain position all the time, it’s not a nice way to live. She’s only 25 and has a lot of life to live still. If she can get the operation and it makes her better, we have to give it a go. I’m not going to raise enough, but people on Twitter with thousands of followers may hit the right people and it only takes a few generous people out there to spot it and help.

“Simon Cowell spotted something on Twitter and donated £25,000. Now, I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but this is Melanie’s life we are talking about and we are all living in hope.”

Melanie is the sister of Trevor’s ex-wife, Meryem, and aunty to their daughter, Katiya and he admits Melanie’s love for his three-year-old daughter is keeping the Cramlington woman alive.

“It sounds extreme right now, and she won’t mind me saying it, but the only thing keeping her going at the moment is my daughter,” said the Northern Ireland ‘keeper. “I’ll be doing the assault course with my ex-missus.

“Break-ups are never great, but me and Meryem get on well. The lads here have been fantastic, offering to help. they have been sharing the Facebook page. I’ve a few other ideas the players are willing to help with. I’m looking to do a sponsored car wash at the ground one day.

“Supporters can come and me and a few of the lads can get their cars washed and they pay what they want. Every bit helps. “It’s a desperate situation and every bit can help. You can’t be embarrassed about it, you have to get the word out there.

“I understand people can’t always sponsor, but if they share things on social media, that can help.”

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