ABU DHABI // From the moment Mike Ballard was carried from the rugby pitch on a stretcher it was clear that his injury was serious.
“It was a regular tackle,” said Jeremy Manning, head coach of Mr Ballard’s team, the Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
“But then the pile-on happened and he got caught in an awkward position and couldn’t get out. It was nothing malicious, it was just one of those freak things.”
Mr Ballard, 29, a teacher at the New England Centre for Children in the capital, fractured his lower vertebra playing against the Jebel Ali Dragons on April 4.
He was taken to Mafraq Hospital where doctors fused his spine back together but he had lost sensation in his legs.
Within the week, Mr Ballard was flown back to his home state of Michigan to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids.
Realising that his rehabilitation would be long and costly, his friends and family set up the Michael Ballard Foundation.
“We started as soon as he had left,” said teammate Ed Lewsey. “We had a meeting at the rugby club and it was mainly members of the club and a few friends. It was just decided that in reaction to this awful event we wanted to do something to help support him and his family.”
The group is organising fund-raising events to ease the family’s financial burden.
“Mike’s injury is long-term and what many people don’t realise is that every little thing throughout the day comes to a cost and it all adds up,” said Mr Manning. “So we’re really just trying to get a word out and help as best we can. Rugby is a family and we want to show that.”
The organisation is having its first event tomorrow night – a 1970s and 1980s-themed fancy dress party at the Clubhouse in Zayed Sports City.
“Initially the party was going to be a fund-raiser for a veteran rugby player,” Mr Lewsey said.
“Then it dawned on everyone that the plight of a 42-year-old trying to get some money to get away for the weekend paled in comparison to Michael’s situation.
“So we decided that all the proceeds should be focused on trying to raise money for Mike instead.”
The foundation has also lined up events for the rest of the year to continue the funding for Mr Ballard’s recovery.
“We’re still fledgling and we’ve only really established ourselves but past that we want to establish a precedent for people in the same situation that Mike is in,” said Mr Lewsey.
Mr Ballard had been playing rugby for only three years but had learnt quickly, securing a place as a prop in the Harlequins first team and winning the most-improved player award for two years in a row.
Mr Lewsey, who is also director of rugby at the British School Al Khubairat, joined the Harlequins the same week as Michael and has been a close friend ever since.
“He’s a guy of great breadth. He was a teacher, a keen kayaker, a softballer, a passionate musician and a guy who’s just made such a great impression on everyone,” said Mr Lewsey.
“With rehab and his being a real positive bloke with an amazing attitude, Mike is the sort of guy to achieve the maximum amount of recovery possible.”
Tickets for the party cost Dh200 in advance or Dh225 at the door, with all proceeds going to the cause.
Visit www.abudhabiquins.com for more information.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
