The finishing line

A message from Del


Hi all,

Thanks again for the continued support. Your encouragement really gives me strength to keep fighting this disease.

Today, August 25th 2009, is six months since we started the book and is also our deadline to have the first complete draft written.

The good news is we have managed to meet our deadline (hurray!!!!!), the not so good news is we still don't have a publisher (booooooo!!!!).

However we do have options.

A) We self publish. We print, distribute and market the book ourselves.
B) In an ideal world we find a publisher who does all of the above.
C) We publish using a website like Lulu.Com, at the moment this looks our best available option.

We have also decided to begin every chapter with a quote. These have been taken from famous people, ancient proverbs, Del's family and friends and the Shawshank Redemption.

Our wonderful proof reader Tamsin, is gamely wading through the drafts she has been sent. We are expecting some polishing up will be needed to the copy but are hoping to have a final manuscript ready in the near future.

Thanks for reading and we will update you soon.

Del

Naming the book - Any ideas?

Hi,

As always a big thank you for your ongoing support, we really appreciate it.

We've noticed a big rise (5o members ish) on the Del's Story Facebook group within the last week or so. We're curious to know where the new members found out about the group. If you are one of them, welcome and thanks and if you could let us know where you learned about the group please drop us a message.

Well we have just over a week before we finish the first draft of the book. 50,000 words, six months of work and plenty of research but as yet no definite name for it.

Any suggestions will be very welcome.

We have recieved some more press coverage. Nik Allen from My News Mag has kindly published articles in his magazines which have a large circulation in Hertfordshire. Top man.

The team Del co-manages, Enfield Town, got off to a winning start yesterday with a one-nil win against Brentwood in the Ryman North Division One.

Thanks for reading and we are hoping to announce some very exciting news in the next blog update due within the next ten days.

Cheers,


Jerry

(On Del's behalf as him and Emma are sunning themselves in Majorca :)

Staying Positive

Hi All,

Thanks for the continued support. The photo is of us getting ready to do some work on the book.

Below is a message from Del just updating everyone about how him and Emma are keeping, the progress of the book and his new football job.

I'd like to say a quick thanks to all the people who have contacted me about a request I put out on Facebook a week or so ago. Your help is really appreciated.

cheers Jerry :)

A message from Del:

"Hello everyone.

I've been keeping myself pretty busy recently. Em and I had a week's holiday down in Cornwall, the weather did it's best to dampen it but we still had a nice time.

The book looks like it's going to be written up by our deadline of August 25th. Jerry has been talking with MND experts and sufferers and we have some very interesting information for the book's chapter looking at a possible link between football and developing MND.

Also Jay Demerit of Watford FC has very kindly agreed to provide one of the forewords for the book. Jay's a great lad who I have known for a few years. He's probably my coaching claim to fame - I recommended him to Ray Lewington when he was Watford's manager and Jay hasn't looked back since. He deserves every bit of his success.

We are also hoping Gazza and Nicky Barmby will contribute to the book.

On the subject of the book I'm now putting together a list of possible photos to use in it. Does anyone have any photos of me, especially old school ones? If you do and you could send them over to me that would be fantastic. The address is jerrylyons207@hotmail.co.uk

An article about our work on the book has appeared in this month's Thumb Print magazine which is sent out to people with MND. Here's a link to the document.

Health wise I'm feeling ok but my arms get so tired now. I'm finding it harder and harder to drive but have to keep going because Em and I need every penny we can get at the moment.

My new role as Enfield Town's joint manager is going well. I had some real fears before taking the job along with my mate Steve Newing but it's turning out well and keeps my mind off of my illness.

The lads at the club have been brilliant. I think they already understand that while the disease means I struggle to move about my brain is still sharp and I'd like to think they respect my knowledge of the game I love. I'm really looking forward to the challenge of the new season.

Thanks for reading and make the most of now."

Del