EFL Week of Action | Zeidane Inoussa and Melker Widell surprise FIT Jacks participant

Swansea City AFC Foundation welcomed first-team players Zeidane Inoussa and Melker Widell to an Active Jacks session to surprise participant Leanne Sharp as part of the EFL’s Week of Action.

Sharp, 40, has been a committed participant at the Foundation’s maintenance fitness class, Active Jacks, since completing the free 12-week health and wellbeing FIT Jacks programme earlier this year.

At what Sharp thought was just a regular session, Widell and Inoussa arrived at the Swansea.com Stadium to present Sharp with a signed Swansea City shirt in recognition of her inspiring strength.

Back in 2006, Sharp’s world was turned upside down as she lost her father to liver cancer. Only three years later Sharp would find out that she would have to fight her own personal battle with cancer.

“I found a lump and finally went to the doctors,” said Sharp.

“After a couple of weeks they told me it was a mass around my ovary. I had that removed and it came back as cancer. The doctors decided to do a radical hysterectomy so I’ve had everything taken away, and it came back as cancer of the womb.

“Normally it’s one that spreads to another but for me it was two separate cancers. That led to six months of chemotherapy and now I’ve been doing well, but this year I found a lump in my breast and luckily enough it came back all clear.”

A long-standing Swansea City season ticket holder, Sharp’s love for the Swans came from attending matches with her late father and uncle, who passed away four years ago but left Sharp with an array of happy memories following the club together, home and away.

“I’ve been a Swans fan for years,” added Sharp.

“I used to bring my dad, and I was a season ticket holder with my uncle as well, just down by the away dugout.

“My uncle died four years ago, he had cancer as well, so it runs in the family. We used to go to away days together, it was the best time spent with family.”

When Widell and Inoussa heard about Sharp’s story, both players were truly inspired by how she has navigated such a challenging period.

“It’s incredible really, what we heard about Leanne and her story,” said Widell.

“I’m very happy that we could come here and meet her in person and tell her how great we think she is, how much we appreciate her support and the connection she has with the club.”

“Leanne’s story is very inspiring,” added Inoussa.

“She has gone through a very rough battle, but she won. To see that she’s still going strong and is still happy is very special.”

Since Sharp graduated from the FIT Jacks programme in April 2025, she has fully integrated into a variety of events hosted by the Swans Foundation, including this year’s Swans Big Sleep Out on Friday November 14, when Sharp will join 100 others in raising awareness for homelessness.

“Leanne is a really valuable asset to our community,” said Robin O’Brien, head of health and wellbeing at Swansea City AFC Foundation.

“She loves what we do at the Foundation, she really believes in it and she’s part of the health and wellbeing family we’ve created.”

The EFL Week of Action aims to highlight the ways in which football clubs and their charitable organisations positively impact their communities.

“The EFL Week of Action has given us the great opportunity to shine a light on Leanne,” said O’Brien.

“It’s been a brilliant way to give back and I think it really hit home with Leanne.”

In addition to spending some time talking with Sharp about her story, Widell and Inoussa also took the time to meet the other Active Jacks participants.

“For me, as well as being a player, I’m a fan of a football club,” said Widell.

“You always appreciate those gestures you get from your favourite football team where they do something for the community for their supporters. 

“We try to build that connection on the pitch by showing how much we care about the team but when you get this opportunity to do it off the pitch as well it’s nice to speak to the people who are local here, and it’s cool to hear some of the stories that they have, how they support the club.”