Everton FC star Jack Grealish donates £10,000 to young Southport dad fighting cancer

AN Everton FC fan and young dad of 3 fighting aggressive cancer has received an incredible:- £10,000 donation, from Toffees legend:- Jack Grealish.

Leon Skapars, 36, is fighting for more time with his wife Crystal and their boys, aged:- 3, 4, and 11. 

The donation left his family overwhelmed; Leon's wife admitted she initially thought there had been a mistake when she saw the amount appear on their GoFundMe Page.

It was only when she realised who had made the donation that the emotion hit her.

Every penny is vital towards giving the Southport family unmissable time together, and exploring treatment options that may prolong Leon's life. 

In August 2026, friends and family completed The Walk for Leon which took the 20 mile journey, from:- Southport Football Club's Stadium on Haig Avenue to Everton Football Club's Hill Dickinson Stadium.  

Speaking about Jack's generosity, Crystal said:- "We honestly can't thank Jack Grealish enough for such an incredibly generous donation. It's hard to put into words what it means to us as a family. When I 1st saw the amount on the GoFundMe page, I genuinely thought there was some kind of error. When I realised it was Jack Grealish who had donated, I burst into tears. I was completely overwhelmed. We're doing everything we can to give Leon more time with me and our 3 boys, and this kind of support could make a real difference in helping us explore further treatment options."

Crystal continued:- "To think that Jack has taken the time to support Leon and our family is just incredible. We're so grateful to him, and to everyone who has donated, shared our story or sent us messages of support. It means more than people could ever imagine. All we want is for Leon to have the chance to watch our boys grow up. We know we have a difficult road ahead, but we'll keep fighting for as long as we can. The kindness people have shown us has been truly overwhelming, and we can't thank everyone enough."

For Leon and his family, the fundraising appeal is about 1 thing above all else:- giving him more time with the people he loves.

At just 36, Leon is facing a battle no family should have to go through. His wife and their 3 boys are at the centre of everything, and they are doing all they can to explore further treatment options.

Jack's £10,000 donation will be a huge boost to the appeal. 

And for Leon, who supports Everton FC, receiving such a generous gesture from a player representing his club makes it all the more special.

But beyond the football, it is the kindness behind the donation that has meant so much to the family. At a time when they are dealing with so much uncertainty, knowing that people are thinking of them and want to help has been incredibly moving.

The family has been touched by the support they have received, from donations and people sharing their appeal to the messages of encouragement that have come their way.

Every bit of support means something to them as they continue to look for ways to give Leon more time with his family.

How you can help Leon

Leon's family is continuing to raise money to help explore further treatment possibilities. Anyone who would like to help can donate to the GoFundMe appeal or share Leon's story to reach more people.

For his wife, the wish behind the fundraising is simple:- she wants Leon to have the chance to watch their 3 boys grow up.

You can read Leon's story and support his family here. 

Jack's donation is an extraordinary act of generosity, and the family hopes to keep raising awareness of Leon's situation as they continue fighting for more time together.