The Mike Delaney Fund

Michael Delaney 2009 In 2000 Michael was balancing soccer and hockey as his winter sports. He eventually chose hockey and in 2001 he represented Northland in the Hatch Cup and was named in the tournament team. In 2002 to 2006 he played in the 1st X1 for Whangarei BoysfHigh School, he represented Northland in every age group and from 2004 he played for the Northland Menfsf team in the NHL. He was selected in the NZ Under 16 Tiger Turf Team for 2004 and 2005 and NZ Under 18 team for 2005 & 2006. In 2006, his last year at Whangarei Boysf High School he was named as Outstanding Sportsman of the year for the school. In this year he played hockey for the school 1st X1, Northland Under 18, Northland Men, Northern Under 21 Men and NZ Under 18 Menfsf Team, as well as gaining university entrance to head off to AUT to start a degree in Physiotherapy. In 2007 Michael enjoyed his first year at North Harbour Hockey. As well as playing hockey in the premier grade with his brother James, he also played top level hockey. He was a member of the North Harbour Under 18 Menfs team that won the National Championship, a member of the Under 21 Menfs team that came second in the National Championship and was in the North Harbour Menfs Team which won the National League. He played with an NZ Invitation Team in Christchurch against Korea and trained with the Black Sticks. He was selected in the Junior Black Sticks team, which went to Malaysia in January 2008. However, he broke his neck in a swimming accident in Gisborne on December 29 2007. He was totally paralysed down his right side, he had broken the odontoid peg off C 2 and damaged C 3 & 5. He spent the first week in ICU at Auckland Hospital, where he had an operation in which a screw was put in place to s ecure the peg into C2. After 6 weeks the operation was unsuccessful and he had to wear a halo for 3 months. This was still unsuccessful and in May he had a fusion of C1 & C2 and eventually in October his spine was successfully stabilised. Michael also had some damage to his spinal cord, which impaired proper nerve function and restricted his movement. His rugged determination saw him walking unaided by March. He eventually returned to Whangarei from the Otara Spinal Unit, where he spent the remainder of the year rehabilitating. He spent every day at the gym and worked hard with his physiotherapist to improve his movement. In February 2009 he returned to university and to live in Auckland. A colleague suggested to his mother that stem cell treatment may help Michael to gain more movement, to enable him to be able to write and throw a ball, as well as being able to run. After plenty of searching and inquiring about stem cell treatment, his parents spoke to a clinic in Germany which was encouraging and gave them a glimmer of hope that such treatment may help Michaelfs development. Michael has spoken publicly at different functions to many young sports people in an attempt to motivate them to be the best that they can be. He has also helped out with coaching Junior Hockey teams and has never complained about where he is at with his current development.