LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
MARK MADDOX
MARK MADDOX used to bring tears to the eyes of opposition strikers – and the Non-League legend did it again with an emotional speech after picking up The NLP's Special Achievement Award.
Maddox was invited to Craven Cottage as a guest of honour. But in recognition of his incredible efforts to raise funds and awareness of Motor Neurone Disease there was a surprise in store.
The 40-year-old ex-Altrincham defender was diagnosed with the terminal muscle-wasting MND two-and-a-half-years ago.
But far from feeling sorry for himself the father of three, known as ‘Mad Dog', is on a crusade to show people what can be achieved.
Despite being unable to train the ex-Leigh Genesis and Formby boss shrugged off doctors advice to become the first person with MND to complete 26.2 miles of the London Marathon in April – his second in six months.
Since diagnosis he's raised more than £20,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He's jumped out of a plane at 15,000ft, played charity football matches, formed a band – Last of a Dying Breed – and writes an open and candid blog about the disease he fights so courageously.
As the joke goes, it's less a case of Mark Maddox having MND and more MND having Mark Maddox.
“I'll be honest it was emotional,” Maddox said. “I never ever get that way now. It was all good but I was really overwhelmed.
“The main reason I wanted to go down was to meet everyone at The NLP in person and show my gratitude for your support. So when I got the award it just made it even more special. It was a great day.
“When I got home the kids said, ‘What was it like dad?' I showed them my award and they said, ‘What's that? It hasn't got a football on it!' They're used to a trophy with a little fella kicking a ball!
“The Non-League family have been really important to me, especially everyone at Alty because without them I wouldn't even be here.”
