Sunday 25 January 2015 22:04, UK
Former Rangers captain Fernando Ricksen says he has been overwhelmed by the messages of support he has received since revealing he is suffering from motor neurone disease.
Ricksen spoke to the club’s website ahead of Sunday’s fundraising tribute match which featured a team of Rangers legends and an All-Star Select at Ibrox.
The number of people who have contacted me and offered help has been overwhelming and I can’t thank everyone enough.
The 38-year-old, who played for the Scottish club between 2000 and 2006, revealed he was suffering from the terminal illness on live TV in 2013.
“When I look back at my football career, and indeed my life, I feel fortunate to have so many great memories and highlights and that includes getting the opportunity to play for my beloved Rangers” said Ricksen on Rangers.co.uk.
“Every time I walk through the main doors at Ibrox Stadium it fills me with pride and joy and that will be the same ahead of today’s tribute match with so many fans and former team-mates of mine wanting to show their support, not only for me and my family but also for MND Scotland and the Rangers Charity Foundation.
“Since 30 October 2013, when I announced on television that I had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, the number of people who have contacted me and offered help has been overwhelming and I can’t thank everyone enough.
“At the age of 36 you don’t expect something like this to happen to you and having been a very fit and active person I always thought I would have a better chance than most of staying healthy as I got older. Unfortunately that’s not the way it works.
“MND strikes indiscriminately and that’s why raising awareness of the disease is so important. At present there is no cure and due to the stage I’m at now I’ll not be able to take to the pitch today which is deeply frustrating.
“Nevertheless I expect the players involved to put on a great show and I would like to thank every one of them for showing a desire to play and, in many instances, for travelling a long way just to be here at Ibrox.”
Ricksen paid special thanks to Rangers fans who travelled in their droves to attend a testimonial match staged by his boyhood club last year.
“Back in May my first club Fortuna Sittard hosted a Testimonial match for me and I couldn’t believe it when I arrived at the stadium to find hundreds of Rangers supporters waiting to welcome the players.
“For so many people to make the journey from Scotland to Holland was incredible, even now it brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it.
“I’m not sure how I will be able to contain my emotions at Ibrox but I am trying to stay strong and positive and fight this disease. It will be very tough but the last thing I want is sympathy. I’ve had an incredible life and when I walk out at Ibrox I’ll do so with my head held high.
“You have to live for now and today I want to enjoy a very special occasion with so many great friends and the best supporters in the world.”
