Ben Stokes' Father Passes Away After Battle With Brain Cancer
Updated - 08 Dec 2020, 07:46 PM
England allrounder Ben Stokes’ father Ged has passed away after a battle with brain cancer. Ged’s former club Workington Town confirmed the unfortunate news through a short statement on Tuesday. Ged played Rugby League for New Zealand as well as playing and coaching for Workington Town.
“It is with great sadness that we learn our former player and coach Ged Stokes has passed away. Ged is written into the rich fabric of Town history and will be greatly missed. Ged still has many, many friends here in West Cumbria and we send our thoughts to them too,” Workington Town wrote in the statement.
Sad news. RIP Ged. pic.twitter.com/KmEDFuLRUd
— Workington Town (@WorkingtonTown) December 8, 2020
Ged was diagnosed with the illness in January when he was in South Africa to cheer for his son during England’s tour of the African country. Stokes senior was admitted to hospital in Johannesburg ahead of England’s Boxing Day Test against the Proteas.
At that time, it was said that Ged had suffered a brain bleed which required surgery. The cancer was diagnosed when he returned to New Zealand. Ben Stokes had later traveled to New Zealand midway through the Test series against Pakistan to be with his father and family.
“He was tough (on me). But as I got older I realised it was all for a reason. He knew I wanted to be a professional sportsman and he was drilling that into me as I started to make a career in cricket,” Ben Stokes had said previously.
“His reputation sort of speaks for itself. You speak to anyone who knows him, played with him or worked with him, they’d all say the same thing.
“Most people acquire a softer side with age and sometimes with dad that has been quite weird to see. What he’s going through has brought that side out as well – we all knew he had it, he just didn’t show it that often,” he had added.
