This brave GIANTS fan is facing one hell of a battle, but with the General in her army, she’s every chance of winning the war.
That might sound like a lot of cliches, however sadly it’s closer to the truth than you might think.
Summah, a courageous nine-year-old from Rooty Hill, is fighting Leukaemia and she is recruiting an army of supporters to help get her through treatment.
As soon as word filtered through to the club, her two favourite players - Jon Patton and Tim Mohr - didn’t hesitate to enlist.
It started with a video message, followed by a chance encounter and then - despite being ill - she somehow found the strength to take part in a jumper presentation on Fan Day.
Now both players are eager to help in whatever way they can.
Summah’s affinity with Patton and Mohr doesn’t relate to their heroics on the field, rather their struggles off it.
Both players have undergone knee reconstructions and it’s their strength during those dark times that fills Summah with hope and inspiration.
Patton and Mohr met Summah last week to present her with a signed jumper and, in return, were presented with a ‘Summah’s Army’ wristband to wear as a constant reminder.
Summah has a way of touching people, even if that’s not her intention. But even the most inspirational people still need to draw inspiration from others.
“Sometimes my family will say ‘it’s going to be ok, it’s going to be ok’ and I feel like screaming at them because they don’t understand what I’m experiencing,” Summah said.
“Jon and Tim are my favourite players because they’ve been through tough times and had to spend time in hospital, just like me. They understand how frustrating it can be.
“It’s nice to know other people who really get what I’m going through.
“I’ve been a GIANTS member for more than half of my life and I can’t wait to see Jon and Tim play again.”
Summah is about to start an intense four-month course of chemotherapy and is unlikely to be well enough to attend any games this season.
She plans to watch matches from her hospital bed and hopes to recover in time for finals, even talking about the possibility of interstate trips.
The term ‘courage’ is thrown around a fair bit in football circles and while running back into packs takes guts, it pales in comparison to what Summah is going through.
We’re proud to support Summah’s Army and encourage all GIANTS fans to do the same.
