Huge support for leukaemia sufferer

Andy Bay Falcons players Fraser Beck (23) and Alex Yarnall (21) and coach Greg Brockbank at the...
Andy Bay Falcons players Fraser Beck (23) and Alex Yarnall (21) and coach Greg Brockbank at the Dunedin Hospital yesterday wearing orange tape in support of Yarnall, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last week. Photo: Linda Robertson.
Last Saturday, Alex Yarnall’s basketball team wore orange patches in support of his recent cancer diagnosis — today all the teams will.

The 21-year-old Andy Bay Falcons big man was taken to hospital last week with leukaemia.

A popular figure in the club, the news had shaken its A grade team and spurred it to wear orange tape — the leukaemia support colour — during last week’s game against the St Kilda Saints.

With the competition moving into playoffs today that is being taken a step further.

All four remaining A grade teams will wear orange patches on their uniforms, while the Falcons had encouraged supporters to wear something with the colour.

The widespread support was something Yarnall had not expected.

"It’s just been an amazing response," the 2.03m centre said.

"I never expected it to go beyond just our club and the people that I know.

"I’ve had messages from people from other basketball clubs that I hardly ever talk to just saying ‘get well soon’.‘‘It’s outstanding the level of support, to be honest."

Yarnall  completed his first round of chemotherapy on Thursday and remains in good spirits, still making jokes and keeping up with his team’s progress.

Despite that, he admitted it had left him feeling tired, but he is taking things hour by hour.

He will have a break — during which he hopes to go home and get outside — before going back for another round in a few weeks.

Yarnall was born in Portsmouth, England, and moved around the United Kingdom a lot growing up with his parents in the navy.

He then spent three years in Connecticut in the United States which was where he got into basketball a decade ago.

After his parents retired from the navy, the family moved to New Zealand, initially to Cromwell.

A regular starter for the Falcons this season, Yarnall has come a long way in the past year.

He was part of the B grade champion Falcons Blue team in 2015 and was called up to the A grade side in the middle of 2016.

Since then, he has played for Otago against the Southland Sharks and had five points while matching up against James Hunter, who has since become a Tall Black.

While there had been some memorable moments in basketball, the biggest thing he emphasised was just playing.

"Every game’s a highlight," he said of his time with the Falcons.

"I won a clutch rebound this season, that was pretty good. 

"Winning the B grade in my first year at Falcons, that was good.

"It’s just a great sport and I love playing and the sociability of the club; we have good social events."

That clutch rebound came against the Bombers — the Falcons’ opponents today — as Yarnall tipped the ball in with a second left to win by a point.

He is picking his team to win today, although felt that any team could beat any team on the day in the competition this year.

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