Irish Echo News

Jim Stynes (bottom left) with his mum, dad and siblings in Melbourne in 2006.

Jim Stynes has revealed that he will be taking a break from his day-to-day duties as chairman of the Melbourne Demons Football Club as he begins a battle with cancer.

At a press conference in the MCG today, the Dubliner revealed that he discovered a lump on his back three weeks ago and that he will go into hospital as soon as possible to begin treatment.

An emotional Jim addressed assembled media at the MCG where he spoke of the tough battle ahead.

“Since I’ve come to this country I’ve had so many amazing experiences and I’ve been very fortunate to be at this great club and all that it gave me,” he began, with his wife Sam at his side.

“I met some amazing people, and I got to spend some amazing time with Reach [Jim's youth charity foundation] and with young people.

“I’ve always stood back in awe at some of the challenges that these young kids face, and I always wondered what it would be like to have those challenges. I always felt that I didn’t really earn that respect to be part of their journeys, because I hadn’t been through what they had.

“I’d never really had what you might call a significant challenge, but three weeks ago I found out that I had a lump on my back. I had it checked and I found out that it was cancerous so I was sent in to do a whole load of follow up tests.

“I thought it might have been located in just that one area, but it’s not. It’s spread quite a bit and I have a journey to go on now. I need to understand it and work with it. I’ve got some of the best people in the country working with me, and between them all they’re doing the best they can.

“I’ve got a great family and a great friendship group who are right behind me so I couldn’t be in better hands.

“I’ve got  a new focus now. I have to put all my energies into getting my body right and into healing. You probably wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with me, I feel great.

“I’ve lost a few kilos because I’m on a special diet, but other than I feel 100 per cent. But obviously my body has something in it that it needs to release and I’ve got to find a way of doing that.

“I’m not stepping down form Melbourne. I’m not walking away. But I will be taking a break and I’ll be taking the rest of the season off so I can focus on this and focus on my family.

“Hopefully I’ll be back in a couple of weeks doing normal things again and you won’t even know there was anything wrong. I’ll be around the club, and I’ll be around Reach, but I wont be involved in the day-to-day running of things.

“The one thing I’d like is for people not to treat me any differently. I’m not walking around with a contagious disease, and I don’t want people to look at me in a weird way. I’m still the same guy and I’m going to get on with my life.”

The 42-year-old, who won the Brownlow Medal in 1991, holds the AFL record for playing the most consecutive games, 244.