Latest news with #Pollock
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. backtracks and restores rare drug coverage for 10-year-old Charleigh Pollock
In a dramatic reversal of a controversial announcement last month, the B.C. Ministry of Health confirmed Thursday that it would reinstate the drug coverage for 10-year-old Charleigh Pollock, a girl on Vancouver Island who suffers from a rare neurodegenerative degeneration called Batten disease. Pollock was denied continuing coverage for treatment last month of the fatal disease , with the government citing the cost of the drug Brineura — reportedly costing $1M per year — in its decision. But pressure quickly mounted on the provincial government as it was learned the Langford native was the lone child in Canada to be denied coverage for the drug, and after a dozen experts of the disease signed a letter to Premier David Eby and Health Minister Josie Osborne, the government reversed course Thursday. The government had previously argued that the decision was guided by an expert-driven process 'that is essential to providing fair treatment to all patients.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I spoke to Charleigh's family earlier this evening. I confirmed to them that I have reinstated Charleigh's Brineura coverage and that coverage will be available to them for as long as the treating physician and the family deem it appropriate,' Osborne said in a statement. 'I continue to strongly believe that decisions about care should be made by health experts to ensure they are based on the best available evidence. The letter I received today from Batten disease experts confirms there is significant disagreement between health experts on Brineura, and it is not acceptable that Charleigh and her family suffer as a result of that disagreement about the use of Brineura for Batten Disease.' Brineura is intended to slow — but cannot stop — the decline in patients' ability to walk and talk until they reach the end stage of the disease. After funding was cut off, a crowdfunding effort raised $69,892 for Pollock , allowing her to receive her first infusion on Thursday at Victoria General Hospital.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Maro Itoje: 'We are all trying to strive to being the best team we can be and get that 3-0 win'
Tour captain Maro Itoje has endorsed Henry Pollock's assertion that the British & Irish Lions can whitewash the Australians in the upcoming Test series, suggesting it would be wrong to think any differently. Pollock, the youngest and least experienced player in the 2025 Lions squad at 20 years old and with just one England cap, has attracted headlines in Britain, Ireland and Australia after post-match comments following the 48-0 victory over an AUSNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide last Saturday that a 3-0 series win over the Wallabies was 'definitely on the table' for the tourists. The Northampton Saints back-rower, who is in the selection conversation for the blindside flanker vacancy in Andy Farrell's team for the first Test in Brisbane this Saturday, had said: "We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We have been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table, hopefully. "We are all trying to strive to being the best team we can be and get that 3-0 win." Pollock may have been viewed as being brash with his remarks at the Adelaide Oval but as the Lions began preparations for the first Test in earnest on Monday in Brisbane, his England pack-mate and captain had no issue with his comments. 'I think that's definitely the ambition,' Itoje said. 'It would go without saying, no one ever wants to lose a game. It would be a bit weird if one of my team-mates said we want to win two and lose one – that would be a bit odd. That's definitely the ambition. 'I'm sure if you were to ask… you said Will Skelton was here earlier… or any other Wallabies players, I hope that's their ambition too, to win all the games. 'Look, obviously we want to win every game we play, that goes without saying. We want to win, as to wear this badge is a tremendous honour and we want to go there and win. But all we're focused is this Saturday. The other two games will look after itself. We just want to get a good result this Saturday.' With another back row Test hopeful, Ben Earl revealing that becoming the best Lions team ever was a collective ambition of the 2025 touring squad, Itoje said his players had the potential to achieve that objective. All that was left was to match those words with actions on the pitch, starting this Saturday. 'We have the capability to do that – it is on us now to deliver. 'And it's on us to deliver over the next three weeks, over these next four games. If we want to do that, if we want to be that, then it's not about talking about it, it's about being about it. The performances over the next three weeks will ultimately be the judge of that.' Itoje, on his third Lions tour having faced the All Blacks in 2017 and the Springboks four years later, confirmed there had been change in atmosphere within the Lions camp now Test week had got underway and the intensity outstripped any national team build-up. 'We know there's going to be a big step up. As we get closer and closer to the game, we'll sharpen and sharpen. There's a healthy tension in the squad because we know this is what we've been working towards. 'It's just the grandness of it, the occasion. It's different to a Test match at Twickenham, it's different to a Test match in any other part of the world, different to a World Cup. The fans go crazy, streets will be lined with people in Lions shirts. You won't be able to go anywhere without Lions fans and people being there. 'It's just a little bit different in that respect. But it's also brilliant, it's also an opportunity that one should relish, an opportunity that we as players should look forward to. We should walk into it. It's one of the great opportunities and events for us.' Both captain and assistant coach John Dalziel on Monday revealed the inspiration the tourists were taking from the Lions memory boards, one for the forwards, another for the backs, created by the players at the suggestion of the coaches. 'The whole idea being that it's a link to history,' Itoje said. 'When you wear this badge and represent the Lions, you have a responsibility because you're representing all four nations. You're also representing all the amazing players who have played and worn the jersey and who've been successful in the jersey. The idea being that it's now our turn, it's our opportunity, and it's up to us to take it forward.'
Rhyl Journal
7 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Lions have set sights on whitewashing Wallabies
The Lions enter the first Test bolstered by an eight-try demolition of an AUNZ Invitational XV, with Andy Farrell scheduled to name his team for the Brisbane opener on Thursday. Farrell's tourists are strong favourites to win the series and Pollock, who is competing for a place on the bench at Suncorp Stadium, insisted they were aiming for greatness. Building! 📈#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 12, 2025 'We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We've been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table,' Pollock said. 'Whether you're playing or not playing in the Tests, we're all just trying to strive to be the best team we can and get that 3-0 win. If that's playing or not playing, then I'll adjust and be the best team-mate I can be.' Pollock – at 20-years-old, the youngest player in the squad – has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell, who made his first appearance of the tour off the bench against AUNZ. The England back row was just eight when Farrell's odyssey with the elite of British and Irish rugby began in Australia 12 years ago and he has been mining the veteran playmaker for advice. 'It was good to get chatting to him, learning from him. He's an amazing player and an amazing person as well,' Pollock said. 'We've had a few conversations. He's got kids, so we talk about his kids, but I'm sitting there going 'I'm still 20'! 'He's been great and I'm learning so much from him. He's so experienced in this game and in this kind of environment. 'It's still quite cool but at the same time, in this environment, we're all striving for the same thing. 'We want to come here and dominate as a team and he's been amazing since he's come in. He's been on top of everything. 'To be able to bring him off the bench and have his experience and his words has been amazing. You can definitely see what he brings on the pitch.' The Lions have come through a bruising schedule of four matches in 11 days and while they remain unbeaten since arriving in Australia, the injury count is growing with Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly forced home, Garry Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie ruled out of the first Test and Blair Kinghorn a major doubt for the opener. Now the schedule settles down to whole weeks spent in the Test host cities Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, enabling the squad to train properly for the first time in a fortnight. All eyes on Brisbane! 👀🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 13, 2025 'You have to be mentally strong as well as physically strong. Your body is the reason you get picked and you have to stay fit,' said Pollock, who withdrew from the side that faced the New South Wales Waratahs because of a calf injury. 'With these short turnarounds, you learn a lot about what you can do and what you can't do in terms of gym, running and extras and making sure that on the pitch you're 100 per cent where you want to be. 'You're just trying to get as fit as you can for these games. With the short turnaround, it's just always trying to be available for the coaches and saying 'I'm fit, I'm fit'. It's something different and I've loved the experience.'
North Wales Chronicle
7 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Lions have set sights on whitewashing Wallabies
The Lions enter the first Test bolstered by an eight-try demolition of an AUNZ Invitational XV, with Andy Farrell scheduled to name his team for the Brisbane opener on Thursday. Farrell's tourists are strong favourites to win the series and Pollock, who is competing for a place on the bench at Suncorp Stadium, insisted they were aiming for greatness. Building! 📈#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 12, 2025 'We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We've been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table,' Pollock said. 'Whether you're playing or not playing in the Tests, we're all just trying to strive to be the best team we can and get that 3-0 win. If that's playing or not playing, then I'll adjust and be the best team-mate I can be.' Pollock – at 20-years-old, the youngest player in the squad – has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell, who made his first appearance of the tour off the bench against AUNZ. The England back row was just eight when Farrell's odyssey with the elite of British and Irish rugby began in Australia 12 years ago and he has been mining the veteran playmaker for advice. 'It was good to get chatting to him, learning from him. He's an amazing player and an amazing person as well,' Pollock said. 'We've had a few conversations. He's got kids, so we talk about his kids, but I'm sitting there going 'I'm still 20'! 'He's been great and I'm learning so much from him. He's so experienced in this game and in this kind of environment. 'It's still quite cool but at the same time, in this environment, we're all striving for the same thing. 'We want to come here and dominate as a team and he's been amazing since he's come in. He's been on top of everything. 'To be able to bring him off the bench and have his experience and his words has been amazing. You can definitely see what he brings on the pitch.' The Lions have come through a bruising schedule of four matches in 11 days and while they remain unbeaten since arriving in Australia, the injury count is growing with Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly forced home, Garry Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie ruled out of the first Test and Blair Kinghorn a major doubt for the opener. Now the schedule settles down to whole weeks spent in the Test host cities Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, enabling the squad to train properly for the first time in a fortnight. All eyes on Brisbane! 👀🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 13, 2025 'You have to be mentally strong as well as physically strong. Your body is the reason you get picked and you have to stay fit,' said Pollock, who withdrew from the side that faced the New South Wales Waratahs because of a calf injury. 'With these short turnarounds, you learn a lot about what you can do and what you can't do in terms of gym, running and extras and making sure that on the pitch you're 100 per cent where you want to be. 'You're just trying to get as fit as you can for these games. With the short turnaround, it's just always trying to be available for the coaches and saying 'I'm fit, I'm fit'. It's something different and I've loved the experience.'
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Lions have set sights on whitewashing Wallabies
The Lions enter the first Test bolstered by an eight-try demolition of an AUNZ Invitational XV, with Andy Farrell scheduled to name his team for the Brisbane opener on Thursday. Farrell's tourists are strong favourites to win the series and Pollock, who is competing for a place on the bench at Suncorp Stadium, insisted they were aiming for greatness. 'We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We've been talking about that loads and 3-0 is definitely on the table,' Pollock said. 'Whether you're playing or not playing in the Tests, we're all just trying to strive to be the best team we can and get that 3-0 win. If that's playing or not playing, then I'll adjust and be the best team-mate I can be.' Pollock – at 20-years-old, the youngest player in the squad – has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell, who made his first appearance of the tour off the bench against AUNZ. The England back row was just eight when Farrell's odyssey with the elite of British and Irish rugby began in Australia 12 years ago and he has been mining the veteran playmaker for advice. 'It was good to get chatting to him, learning from him. He's an amazing player and an amazing person as well,' Pollock said. 'We've had a few conversations. He's got kids, so we talk about his kids, but I'm sitting there going 'I'm still 20'! 'He's been great and I'm learning so much from him. He's so experienced in this game and in this kind of environment. 'It's still quite cool but at the same time, in this environment, we're all striving for the same thing. Pollock has been rooming with a veteran of four Lions expeditions in Owen Farrell (David Davies/PA) 'We want to come here and dominate as a team and he's been amazing since he's come in. He's been on top of everything. 'To be able to bring him off the bench and have his experience and his words has been amazing. You can definitely see what he brings on the pitch.' The Lions have come through a bruising schedule of four matches in 11 days and while they remain unbeaten since arriving in Australia, the injury count is growing with Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly forced home, Garry Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie ruled out of the first Test and Blair Kinghorn a major doubt for the opener. Now the schedule settles down to whole weeks spent in the Test host cities Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, enabling the squad to train properly for the first time in a fortnight. 'You have to be mentally strong as well as physically strong. Your body is the reason you get picked and you have to stay fit,' said Pollock, who withdrew from the side that faced the New South Wales Waratahs because of a calf injury. 'With these short turnarounds, you learn a lot about what you can do and what you can't do in terms of gym, running and extras and making sure that on the pitch you're 100 per cent where you want to be. 'You're just trying to get as fit as you can for these games. With the short turnaround, it's just always trying to be available for the coaches and saying 'I'm fit, I'm fit'. It's something different and I've loved the experience.'
