Marcus Stewart expresses his hope that the club’s initiative of raising funds for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation through the launch of a new kit will continue to amplify the voices of those affected by the disease.
Ipswich’s latest shirts, sponsored by Ed Sheeran once again, have become their fastest-selling merchandise.
This comes as the Tractor Boys prepare for their return to the Sky Bet Championship following their promotion from League One last season.
Throughout the month of July, Ipswich will donate £2 to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation for every home shirt sold.
This contribution supports Stewart’s fundraising endeavors for the charity after his own diagnosis with motor neurone disease last year.
The sales of the new home kit during the opening weekend, including its debut in Town’s pre-season friendly against Felixstowe & Walton United, raised over £11,000.
The design of the home shirt draws inspiration from Ipswich’s successful 1999-2000 campaign, which culminated in their promotion through the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The team went on to finish fifth in the top flight the following season.
Stewart scored 19 league goals – coming second behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and ahead of Thierry Henry in the race for the Golden Boot – which helped George Burley’s team secure qualification for the UEFA Cup.
The former Town frontman, 50, has been taken aback by how well the new kit has been received and so bringing in welcome additional funds for the charity
“I don’t think the club have sold that many new kits on the first day ever,” Stewart told the PA news agency.
“Ipswich have been great. We haven’t approached them about getting these things to happen, it is them who have come up with the ideas.
“They have been very proactive in helping out the charity in a big way and it all creates awareness as well.”
Stewart’s own diagnosis came after 12 months of testing and was revealed during September last year.
MND is a degenerative condition which affects the brain and nervous system. It is a life-shortening disease and there is no cure. Although it will progress, symptoms can be managed to achieve the best possible quality of life.
Currently head of player development at National League South club Yeovil, another of his old teams, Stewart, supported by his wife Louise, hopes to continue to front campaigns for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation while he is able.
The foundation was launched by former professional footballer Stephen Darby and armed forces veteran Chris Rimmer, who were both diagnosed with the disease. Rimmer died aged 39 in April last year.
Former Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Rob Burrow is living with the condition after his diagnosis in 2019.
Burrow’s former team-mate Kevin Sinfield is another who has helped improve awareness of MND and raised millions of pounds for charity through his endurance efforts.
“I am lucky. At the moment, I still have got my voice, still have got my mobility,” said Stewart, who played in every tier of the English professional game.
“I have a little bit of a profile, not as big as Kev and Rob, but I am there to be the voice of the people who haven’t got a profile, who haven’t got mobility and a voice because of the disease.
“As long as I am well and good – I am still exercising and able to work – I am going to do my best to get out there and be a voice for the other people while I can, like Kev and a lot of people are doing for MND, the silent ones who are doing their bit in their own time.”