Marching on Cancer: Michelle’s experience

“I went to my first match when I was eight months old, and I’ve been going to home and away games ever since. The whole family are avid Leeds fans,” said Michelle Kite, a children’s cancer nurse from Brighouse.

“I remember when the snow was two feet high and it was freezing, but we still went. I was at Wembley when we won the FA Charity Shield in 1992.”

When Yorkshire Cancer Research and Leeds United offered fans with experience of cancer the chance to win hospitality tickets to a match at Elland Road, Michelle was nominated by her mum Heidi.

Heidi said: “From going into homes to give chemotherapy to children during the pandemic to working very long hours, the last two years have been very stressful for Michelle.

“She is a wonderful caring nurse who does her absolute best for children going through cancer and their families.

“She was also a tower of strength to my family, when her dad, also a Leeds United supporter, started treatment for throat cancer three years ago.”

Michelle’s dad was first diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago. He was successfully treated at the time, but the cancer has since returned.

Michelle has been a children’s cancer nurse for 18 years and works on the Children’s Cancer Unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

She explained: “I started working with children who had cancer as soon as I finished being a student and I loved it.

“The children and young adults that I work with are all amazing. Every day I go to work to be with patients and the families and I do the best I can for them.”

The partnership between Yorkshire Cancer Research and Leeds United is an important one for Michelle, as she sees first-hand the role research plays in advancing cancer treatment.

Despite knowing that she’d been nominated to win hospitality tickets as part of the partnership, it was an unexpected treat to find out that she’d been selected as one of 10 successful nominees.

She said: “I never thought I’d win; I never win anything, so I was really surprised.”

Michelle attended the match against Arsenal on 18th December.

“I went with my dad and my two sisters, and it was nice to have that family time as we’d just found out there were no longer any curative treatment options that could cure my dad’s cancer. My children and extended family were also there, so it was lovely to meet up after the match.”