Club’s kick in to support fundraiser

THE second annual Let’s Kick Cancer game between Leopold and Grovedale this month will continue to raise awareness and money to help support people who have the disease.

Grovedale Football Netball Club will again host Leopold Football and Netball Club and the fundraising event at Burdoo Reserve on August 18.

Last year’s event was a great success, attracting more than 200 people and raising more than $17,000 for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

Tim Russell and his sister Tracey Quinlan, along with Sheridan Edsall and Brent Beer, are the driving forces behind the fundraising game, which will feature an informal luncheon with guest speakers, a major raffle and the Let’s Kick Cancer Cup.

Mr Russell came up with the idea after he and Tracey lost their mum Rosemary, 75, to cancer in August 2016, while both Sheridan and Brent also lost their mothers to cancer.

“From our perspective, we want to keep the awareness up, and hopefully over time get other clubs on board,” he said.

“For us, we want to develop the fundraiser and make it into an annual event, and the more people who know about it the better for cancer awareness, and hopefully we can raise some good money again this year to go to the Andrew Love Cancer Centre.”

Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson will speak at the luncheon, along with a staff member from the Andrew Love Cancer Centre who will share some insight into how they help patients and their families deal with their cancer journeys.

Ms Quinlan said while raising money for the cancer centre was a bonus, the most important aspect of the event was raising awareness.

“It doesn’t matter if we can raise $1,000 or like we did last year which was $17,000, it’s all about making people aware of what’s out there,” she said.

“When someone has cancer we are so lucky with our medical facilities, which are just down the road, and our amazing doctors and nurses, and we are so lucky to have all of that at our back doorstep.

“There are people who travel hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kilometres to access those services.

“In a time when you are going through a trauma in your life, it’s good to know what is available.”

Grovedale is keen for the Round 17 win, after Leopold’s football and netball teams took out the Let’s Kick Cancer Cup last year.

Tickets for the luncheon, which starts at noon, cost $20 per person and are available at trybooking.com/book/eventeid=398889 or can be purchased at the door.

Let’s Kick Cancer beanies are also available for $20 each.