Community soccer fundraiser pulls in $10k

COERVER Coaching Geelong and Surf Coast FC rallied the community together in support of a famous soccer family, bringing in more than $10,000 in a fundraising event last week.

Matildas star Kyra Cooney-Cross, who lived in Torquay during her high school years, was expected to play for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League on January 10 but announced on Instagram that she had rushed home to support her mother Jess, who had been diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, better known as bile duct cancer.

The rare and aggressive form of cancer has no cure.

In response, Coerver Coaching Geelong and Surf Coast FC joined forces for the specialised training session on Friday last week, including a sausage sizzle, cake stall as well as an online auction, which remains live.

In a post on its Facebook page, Coerver Coaching Geelong stated more than 100 footballers signed up with only four days’ notice and the event raised $10,178.

“What a day. So much heart and enthusiasm from every angle. We are so grateful to each and every one of you who contributed, had a hand in running the day, joined the training session or shopped at the cake stalls and sausage sizzle. It was a true team effort and a beautiful example of what our community is capable of.”

To bid on items in the online auction, which include guernseys signed by Cooney-Cross, the Matildas, Manchester United legend Roy Keane and Geelong Cats Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett Jr, head to airauctioneer.com/support-jess-and-andy-through-this-unimaginable-diagnosis

A GoFundMe to support the family had raised nearly $170,000 of its $210,000 target as of Tuesday this week.