Chemotherapy unit to benefit from Champions tourney
THE most coveted title for a Plymouth darts player to win is the Champion of Champions crown and the competition is back for an unprecedented 35th year.
The competition is fierce, evident in the fact that in the previous 34 years, only 23 players have lifted the famous trophy, the latest being Neil White who defeated the five-time winner Simon Stevenson 5-4 in 2018.
This time around White will be hoping to become only the fourth winner to defend the title, following in the footsteps of John Goves (1985-86), Flynn Jones (1994-95) and Adrian Lamerton (2005-06).
JUST CHAMPION: Reigning Champion of Champions winner Neil White pictured with three of Lyd Ward's nursing staff. From Left to Right: Staff Nurse Jenny Barritt, Staff Nurse Ashley Manison and Junior Sister Ellie Shepherd.
Champion of Champions has helped to raise thousands of pounds over the years for local charities and hopefully this year will be no exception.
Benefiting from this year’s competition will be Lyd Ward in Derriford Hospital.
Lyd Ward houses the chemotherapy unit and is staffed by a friendly, dedicated team of specialist nurses.
The service covers a population of 480,000 spanning East Devon, West Cornwall, and the city of Plymouth and provides Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) for all types of cancer.
Because of the broad nature of the patients treated with chemotherapy there are several different pathways by which patients are assessed for chemotherapy, i.e. pathways are specific to Inpatient and Outpatients delivery and also differ between Haematology and Oncology.
Junior Sister Ellie Shepherd says that Lyd Ward has three bays of six and administers chemotherapy to approximately 40 patients each day, five days a week.
When the tournament begins, one Plymouth darts player will be in the middle of his own chemotherapy treatment on Lyd Ward.
To enter, simply visit www.plymouthdarts.org.uk, leaving your name and donation.
All play-offs will be on Sunday evenings, with the format being the best of five legs of 501, flying start, and every care has been taken to ensure that there is no clash with county weekends.
The final itself will be extended to the best of nine legs and the bust rule will apply throughout the competition.
The preliminary round will take place on Sunday September 22 and subsequent rounds will follow on October 6, October 27 and November 10.
The Grand Final and cheque presentation to the charity will take place on Sunday December 8 at the Victory Inn, Honicknowle.
The closing date is Friday, September 6, so don’t delay, get those entries in now and aim not only for the Champion of Champions title, but also to aid the Chemotherapy Unit on Lyd Ward.
