Jack Grealish's £10,000 donation to Leon Skapars' cancer treatment fund left Crystal Duffey in tears and, in her words, made the family's future feel different. Skapars is 36 and was diagnosed with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma in August 2025. Duffey said he has been told he has between 12 months and three years to live.
The family's reaction
Speaking to BBC News, Duffey said: "We had a cry when we saw it. £10,000 is a lot of money. But for our family this could change our future."
She added: "But we wanted to do everything we could to ensure he has access to the best possible care - and we can keep our family together."
The donation came after someone shared a video from Leon's Instagram page on their story and Grealish saw it, according to Duffey. It is a gesture that sits well beyond the normal boundaries of a player-fan interaction, especially for a family still trying to raise enough for treatment.
The treatment push
The family had a clinical trial place at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas, where the cost for a place is $200,000. That figure gives the £10,000 donation its real value. It does not solve the problem on its own, but it is the kind of contribution that can keep a fundraiser moving when a case is already urgent.
Everton's connection here is indirect, through Duffey's support for a player who is still active and making an off-field gesture from his own platform. Jack Grealish has played 299 Premier League minutes in his five league appearances this season, and his season average rating in all competitions is 6.66 across 5 appearances.
The family still has a long way to go, but the donation has put a real number behind the hope. The next hurdle is the remaining fundraising for the Texas trial place.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
