Magpies celebrate Brain Cancer Awareness as Stapleford marks 10 years tumour free
The annual Brain Cancer Awareness game has become a cherished part of the Magpies season as they celebrate favourite daughter and star forward Sophie Stapleford's successful battle against a brain tumour.
It is 10 years since Stapleford's life was turned upside down when world renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo told her: "You have a large aggressive brain tumour."
"These words completely changed my life. Everything suddenly came to a halt, literally I had to stop everything," Stapleford told the Maitland Mercury in 2022.
Doctors were able to successfully remove her brain tumour and after further treatment Stapleford returned to footballl in 2017.
"The 18th of May 2015, 10 years ago I became a survivor," Stapleford recalled this week of her recovery after surgery.
"There weren't many positive outcomes being spoken, you had two weeks left in you, you won't play sport again, a heart condition, a lot of every day side effects, there were a lot of hard times, the normal things became difficult.
"Resilience became a must and survival was the only option.
"With all of that, if you have a village of incredibly supportive, positive people lifting you up anything is possible.I am thankful for it all, I wasn't at the time but I am now.
"I am so thankful for every day that I can run on to the field, I'm blessed to be out here because there were days I couldn't be," she said.
Stapleford led Maitland when they entered the competition in 2021, and after a stint with the Newcastle Jets has been a mainstay of the Maitland team, leading them to the NPLW premiership last season.
She said she felt humbled by the day, but appreciated the club's effort to show her how much they cared about her.
It was also an opportunity to share the words from her pop's own battle with cancer that: "If you stay positive you can get through even the worst days."
"I strive to promote that because unless you've been there you really don't know," she said.
Stapleford said brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease.
"It kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.There is a 22 per cent survival rate," she said.
"The financial cost of brain cancer, to both patients and society is the highest of all cancers.
"Brain tumours can have lasting and life altering physical, cognitive, and psychological impacts on a patients life more than any other disease.
"The stats are absolutely devastating, yet it is the least funded and the least talked about."
The Magpies had their first loss of the season in the Women's League Cup last weekend going down 3-2 to Charlestown Azzurri, but remain unbeaten in the premier league competition with eight wins and a draw.
They are six points clear on top of the table from Azzurri, who have a game in hand, and defeated their main rival 3-0 away in round 7 in April.
The other NPLW games this weekend have been postponed.
Maitland FC's NPLM game against Valentine on Saturday has been postponed.
It followed the wash-out of last Wednesday's round 10 catch-up fixture against Belmont Swansea.
The Weston Bears home game against Charlestown Azzurri on Saturday has also been postponed.
Maitland FC women's players will wear special Brain Cancer Awareness jerseys against Adamstown on Sunday as their star forward Sophie Stapleford marks 10 years tumour free.
The annual Brain Cancer Awareness game has become a cherished part of the Magpies season as they celebrate favourite daughter and star forward Sophie Stapleford's successful battle against a brain tumour.
It is 10 years since Stapleford's life was turned upside down when world renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo told her: "You have a large aggressive brain tumour."
"These words completely changed my life. Everything suddenly came to a halt, literally I had to stop everything," Stapleford told the Maitland Mercury in 2022.
Doctors were able to successfully remove her brain tumour and after further treatment Stapleford returned to footballl in 2017.
"The 18th of May 2015, 10 years ago I became a survivor," Stapleford recalled this week of her recovery after surgery.
"There weren't many positive outcomes being spoken, you had two weeks left in you, you won't play sport again, a heart condition, a lot of every day side effects, there were a lot of hard times, the normal things became difficult.
"Resilience became a must and survival was the only option.
"With all of that, if you have a village of incredibly supportive, positive people lifting you up anything is possible.I am thankful for it all, I wasn't at the time but I am now.
"I am so thankful for every day that I can run on to the field, I'm blessed to be out here because there were days I couldn't be," she said.
Stapleford led Maitland when they entered the competition in 2021, and after a stint with the Newcastle Jets has been a mainstay of the Maitland team, leading them to the NPLW premiership last season.
She said she felt humbled by the day, but appreciated the club's effort to show her how much they cared about her.
It was also an opportunity to share the words from her pop's own battle with cancer that: "If you stay positive you can get through even the worst days."
"I strive to promote that because unless you've been there you really don't know," she said.
Stapleford said brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease.
"It kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.There is a 22 per cent survival rate," she said.
"The financial cost of brain cancer, to both patients and society is the highest of all cancers.
"Brain tumours can have lasting and life altering physical, cognitive, and psychological impacts on a patients life more than any other disease.
"The stats are absolutely devastating, yet it is the least funded and the least talked about."
The Magpies had their first loss of the season in the Women's League Cup last weekend going down 3-2 to Charlestown Azzurri, but remain unbeaten in the premier league competition with eight wins and a draw.
They are six points clear on top of the table from Azzurri, who have a game in hand, and defeated their main rival 3-0 away in round 7 in April.
The other NPLW games this weekend have been postponed.
Maitland FC's NPLM game against Valentine on Saturday has been postponed.
It followed the wash-out of last Wednesday's round 10 catch-up fixture against Belmont Swansea.
The Weston Bears home game against Charlestown Azzurri on Saturday has also been postponed.
Maitland FC women's players will wear special Brain Cancer Awareness jerseys against Adamstown on Sunday as their star forward Sophie Stapleford marks 10 years tumour free.
The annual Brain Cancer Awareness game has become a cherished part of the Magpies season as they celebrate favourite daughter and star forward Sophie Stapleford's successful battle against a brain tumour.
It is 10 years since Stapleford's life was turned upside down when world renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo told her: "You have a large aggressive brain tumour."
"These words completely changed my life. Everything suddenly came to a halt, literally I had to stop everything," Stapleford told the Maitland Mercury in 2022.
Doctors were able to successfully remove her brain tumour and after further treatment Stapleford returned to footballl in 2017.
"The 18th of May 2015, 10 years ago I became a survivor," Stapleford recalled this week of her recovery after surgery.
"There weren't many positive outcomes being spoken, you had two weeks left in you, you won't play sport again, a heart condition, a lot of every day side effects, there were a lot of hard times, the normal things became difficult.
"Resilience became a must and survival was the only option.
"With all of that, if you have a village of incredibly supportive, positive people lifting you up anything is possible.I am thankful for it all, I wasn't at the time but I am now.
"I am so thankful for every day that I can run on to the field, I'm blessed to be out here because there were days I couldn't be," she said.
Stapleford led Maitland when they entered the competition in 2021, and after a stint with the Newcastle Jets has been a mainstay of the Maitland team, leading them to the NPLW premiership last season.
She said she felt humbled by the day, but appreciated the club's effort to show her how much they cared about her.
It was also an opportunity to share the words from her pop's own battle with cancer that: "If you stay positive you can get through even the worst days."
"I strive to promote that because unless you've been there you really don't know," she said.
Stapleford said brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease.
"It kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.There is a 22 per cent survival rate," she said.
"The financial cost of brain cancer, to both patients and society is the highest of all cancers.
"Brain tumours can have lasting and life altering physical, cognitive, and psychological impacts on a patients life more than any other disease.
"The stats are absolutely devastating, yet it is the least funded and the least talked about."
The Magpies had their first loss of the season in the Women's League Cup last weekend going down 3-2 to Charlestown Azzurri, but remain unbeaten in the premier league competition with eight wins and a draw.
They are six points clear on top of the table from Azzurri, who have a game in hand, and defeated their main rival 3-0 away in round 7 in April.
The other NPLW games this weekend have been postponed.
Maitland FC's NPLM game against Valentine on Saturday has been postponed.
It followed the wash-out of last Wednesday's round 10 catch-up fixture against Belmont Swansea.
The Weston Bears home game against Charlestown Azzurri on Saturday has also been postponed.
Maitland FC women's players will wear special Brain Cancer Awareness jerseys against Adamstown on Sunday as their star forward Sophie Stapleford marks 10 years tumour free.
The annual Brain Cancer Awareness game has become a cherished part of the Magpies season as they celebrate favourite daughter and star forward Sophie Stapleford's successful battle against a brain tumour.
It is 10 years since Stapleford's life was turned upside down when world renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo told her: "You have a large aggressive brain tumour."
"These words completely changed my life. Everything suddenly came to a halt, literally I had to stop everything," Stapleford told the Maitland Mercury in 2022.
Doctors were able to successfully remove her brain tumour and after further treatment Stapleford returned to footballl in 2017.
"The 18th of May 2015, 10 years ago I became a survivor," Stapleford recalled this week of her recovery after surgery.
"There weren't many positive outcomes being spoken, you had two weeks left in you, you won't play sport again, a heart condition, a lot of every day side effects, there were a lot of hard times, the normal things became difficult.
"Resilience became a must and survival was the only option.
"With all of that, if you have a village of incredibly supportive, positive people lifting you up anything is possible.I am thankful for it all, I wasn't at the time but I am now.
"I am so thankful for every day that I can run on to the field, I'm blessed to be out here because there were days I couldn't be," she said.
Stapleford led Maitland when they entered the competition in 2021, and after a stint with the Newcastle Jets has been a mainstay of the Maitland team, leading them to the NPLW premiership last season.
She said she felt humbled by the day, but appreciated the club's effort to show her how much they cared about her.
It was also an opportunity to share the words from her pop's own battle with cancer that: "If you stay positive you can get through even the worst days."
"I strive to promote that because unless you've been there you really don't know," she said.
Stapleford said brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease.
"It kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.There is a 22 per cent survival rate," she said.
"The financial cost of brain cancer, to both patients and society is the highest of all cancers.
"Brain tumours can have lasting and life altering physical, cognitive, and psychological impacts on a patients life more than any other disease.
"The stats are absolutely devastating, yet it is the least funded and the least talked about."
The Magpies had their first loss of the season in the Women's League Cup last weekend going down 3-2 to Charlestown Azzurri, but remain unbeaten in the premier league competition with eight wins and a draw.
They are six points clear on top of the table from Azzurri, who have a game in hand, and defeated their main rival 3-0 away in round 7 in April.
The other NPLW games this weekend have been postponed.
Maitland FC's NPLM game against Valentine on Saturday has been postponed.
It followed the wash-out of last Wednesday's round 10 catch-up fixture against Belmont Swansea.
The Weston Bears home game against Charlestown Azzurri on Saturday has also been postponed.
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