As Abu Dhabi Harlequins prop Mike Ballard continues his long road to recovery in America, he has not been forgotten by the friends he left behind in the UAE rugby community.
Far from it. There were messages of support for the stricken 29-year-old during the recent Bill McLaren Foundation All Star Challenge, while a group of his former team-mates and friends have set up a charity in his honour.
The Mike Ballard Foundation aims to raise awareness and money to offer the teacher and his family support both emotionally and financially.
Ballard remains in hospital in his native Michigan having suffered a spinal injury during the ARFU West Asia Champion Club final on April 4.
Feeling in his left leg continues to improve but it remains impossible to say whether he will be able to walk again.
While he is in hospital his parents have begun the task of making their house wheelchair-friendly for when Ballard is released as an in-patient and then continues his rehabilitation at home.
The foundation therefore aims to help raise some money to help in what will be an expensive process, starting with a ‘70s and ‘80s night at the Clubhouse in Zayed Sports City this Friday (April 25).
“The gravity (of the injury) dawned on everyone and we realised that this is going to be a long-term thing for Mike and his family and that they are going to need some support, both financially and emotionally,” said team-mate Ed Lewesy.
“We decided that we didn’t want it just to be a flash in the pan and obviously there was a lot of enthusiasm and good will, but if we did loads immediately it might exhaust it and dilute the cause.
“So we thought this had to be a relatively long-run thing and create a bit of a legacy because Mike made a massive impression in the three years that he’s been here.”
Lewesy added: “It’s still very early days and the will to help from people has been amazing.”
Friday’s fundraiser gets under way at 19:00 and there will be a barbecue laid on for guests, with advanced tickets available for Dh200, while entry on the day itself will cost Dh225.
All the proceeds will be sent to Mike and his family in America.
Further events have been provisionally planned throughout the rest of the year and into 2015, witha rugby league game due to take place in Abu Dhabi on May 16 and a golf day and dinner pencilled in for September.
And the foundation is hopeful that the wider community will get involved.
“We want this to be more than an exclusively rugby thing, it is open to everyone,” Lewesy added. “He was not just a rugby player; his job was a teacher, he was heavily into music, he was part of a folk group, he did a bit of work with Noukhada, the kayaking group, and he also played a bit of softball on a social level.”
Ballard remains upbeat as he continues his long journey back to health and the 29-year-old hopes to be back at work, with the New England Center for Children with Autism, within six months.
“I spoke to him (earlier this week) and he’s in good spirits,” Lewesy said. “He’s getting on with his rehab and he’s also got a moustache. It’s his rehab moustache.
“He is proud of it and he grows a fine moustache as well.”
What: Mike Ballard Foundation events
Where: 70s and 80s night, The Clubhouse, Zayed Sports City
When: Friday, from 19:00 with events continuing throughout the year.
Contact: For more information, please contact Ed Lewesy on 050 788 6519 or Eileen Siegal on 056 772 3010
