Source: Man_City
Kompany reveals emotional link to cancer centre
Vincent Kompany with patients David Daly and Jen Bayley at the new scanner at Christie OldhamDon't try to tell Vincent Kompany that the battle for fourth place in the Premier League is a matter of life and death. For the City ace has revealed the family tragedy which underpins his attitude to life, and his level-headed view of football. The big Belgian defender took time out from City's hunt for a Champions League place to open the new Christie at Oldham radiotherapy centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital. And after meeting City fans who are in remission from the disease, and some who are still undergoing treatment, Kompany said it was a cause close to his heart. "My mother and sister both had cancer," said an emotional Kompany. "Two-and-a-half years ago, my mother Jocelyne passed away after fighting very hard against it. "I was lucky that my sister who is two years older than me, was cured. It gave our family hard moments, but it made us stronger. "We found out about my sister's cancer when she was 23, but she is a strong woman, as my mother was. "They went through the same treatments at the same time, even though the cancers were different, and I am really happy that my sister was lucky enough to have the right therapy to get through it. "My mother passed away, but my sister - even though she had the difficult time of losing our mother - a couple of months later got the green light about her disease." That personal tragedy meant Kompany was only too happy to open the new £17m centre, which means cancer patients in the Oldham area do not have to travel to the Christie Hospital in south Manchester to receive vital treatments. "I have a lot of respect for the people I have seen today and those helping cancer patients," said Kompany, expected to be at the heart of the Blues' defence at Sunderland on Sunday. "I was happy to meet the City fans here today, and I know how difficult it is for them to get through because of the cases in my family. "It has meant a lot to me to open the new unit, and no-one could have more respect and admiration for the people who have been through this." Kompany also had a message for the nay-sayers who have grouched all season about City's new-found wealth, and who have used it to downplay the team's achievements and to savage their setbacks. "It's never been easy because money has always been a subject when our name gets mentioned," he said. "Good, positive results were always put in the dark by money talk, and negative results were exposed even more. "But we have proved we are mentally strong just by being where we are now despite everything that has been happening. "There is no reason we should break mentally in the last 12 games of the season. "People want to draw a positive picture for Spurs and Villa, saying they are having perfect seasons, and for some reason we are not. "Fine, they can have a perfect, wonderful season, and we can have a bad season and finish fourth!" What do you think? Have your say.| Submit Comments| Comments (16)| PrintWhat's this? Emaildel.icio.usDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponNewsvineGoogle BookmarksNetscapeTechnoratiWindows LiveYahoo! MyWebMa.gnolia
