A DAD battling terminal pancreatic cancer and given just months to live was “humbled” to walk out onto Roots Hall’s pitch as Southend United’s 12th man alongside his children.

Lee Rawlinson, from Leigh, was diagnosed four weeks ago with terminal pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver and was given months to live by doctors.

In an appeal, publicised by the Echo, Lee called for help from the community to make his “last Christmas” a magical one for his wife Faye, and children Darcey, ten and Marley, six, following the diagnosis.

Lee, 51, lead out Southend FC on Saturday as the 12th man for the team ahead of their match with Forest Green Rovers, with Marley and Darcey joining their dad as mascots. 

Walk out - Lee Rawlinson with Marley and Darcey as 12th man Walk out - Lee Rawlinson with Marley and Darcey as 12th man (Image: Lee Rawlinson)


Lee has thanked the Southend community for helping support him, as well as Karl Lansley of the Karl Lansley Foundation who helped arrange it.

He said: “I felt like a little boy myself, it was a magical experience.

“Karl Lansey set it up, he spoke to the team to make it happen and the chairman, Justin Rees, was fantastic. He gave me his scarf and the club gave me a shirt to wear. It was lovely.

“It was lovely for the kids and it was magical being with my kids and experiencing something like that, I was able to meet all the players and get their autographs and they got to warm up with them before the game started.

“It was surreal, and as you might say, I was living the dream with them.” 

Warmup - Marley Rawlinson Warmup - Marley Rawlinson (Image: Lee Rawlinson) Mascots - Darcey Rawlinson Mascots - Darcey Rawlinson (Image: Lee Rawlinson)


Lee has received a massive outpouring of support from people across south Essex, with a fundraiser to support his family currently at £9,085 and Wembley Stadium treating him like royalty at last Sunday’s England v Ireland match.

He will be joining Arsenal in a guest spot at their match against Crystal Palace on December 18.

Lee added: “The community has pulled together to support us and make us feel more a part of it than ever and I feel the love for the children, how everyone is making them feel special as eventually they will lose a dad.

“We are humbled to do what we did by the support.”

To donate, justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rawlinsons