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A GF moment

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:33 pm
by cd
An aspect of the GF that I think should be told - not for publicity but to emphasise why footy is so important to us all.
(Have posted here now as is public - was mentioned by Joe Pedler on RPH sports show this morning.)
Our players' charity is Ronald McDonald house and the boys spend lots of time with the families and in particular the children - most of the kids regularly beat the boys on the computer games!
The program we run is very special and is something our players (and others - including the board and suppport staff) do because they really want to - it is totally voluntary.
Before the GF the team received from the gang at the house balloons in gold green and blue with lots of good luck messages.
One message though, which I learned about after the game, is now for me and others at WWTFC a very very important and special memory of this wonderful win. When a seriously ill youngster in hospital sends a message saying "Please win it this year cos I might not be here next year"- we just had to do it.
Footy is such a great game and makes for a better community - I'm sure one youngster has been feeling a lot better over the past few days.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:53 pm
by westside
sensational.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:22 pm
by once_were_warriors
Fantastic
Inspirational , So Proud of the club for being involved in this.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:24 pm
by Booney
Rips at the heart strings of any parent,good work by the boys to make this tacker feel like life is on his side for a change.Having a had a nephew (wifes nephew) battle the dreaded "C" on two occasions,I know how the Ron Mc house does such great work,I also know the value of a smile to these kids.Worth more than anything in the world.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:32 pm
by JK
Rips at the heart strings of anyone I think ... Fantastic stuff CD and thanks for sharing ... Organisations like Ronald McDonald House and Camp Quality do a fantastic job in supporting seriously ill children and their families

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:35 pm
by am Bays
*speechless*
close the voting we have post of the year.....

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:52 pm
by haze.13
Thanks for that Col, you just gave me that warm tingly feeling that you only get when something truly inspirational touches your heart
There were many 'goosebump' moments on Sunday and over the past couple of days since, this is another great one.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:03 pm
by power01
that would have to be one of the most moving stories I have heard in a very long time............just Magic!........"DREAMS CAN AND DO COME TRUE"
WWTFC I TIP MY HAT TO YOU!!

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:15 pm
by smac
Great stuff by the club, time is the greatest gift you can give some of these kids. To me, what also stands out is the lack of publicity they had in doing it - obviously comes from the heart and not the marketing department.
Well done.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:16 pm
by westcoastpanther
Great stuff Eagles and I hope the youngster can show the same courage illustrated the by the WWTFC to keep getting up off the canvas when your continually knocked down. Fight hard matey!!

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:12 pm
by MightyEagles
I know that there was one kid that the guys saw a few times in the last 12 months or so, passed away at the start of the season, would have loved to have been there on Sunday.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:43 pm
by Mickyj
WOW What more can I say brings a tear to my eye .Makes you understand there is always someone worse off than yourself !!

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:09 pm
by Wedgie
Great story cd, thanks for sharing that with us, I briefly heard mention of it on 5RPH this morning.
Its a pity the Advertiser goes out of its way to give a page spread if a SANFL player gets caught drink driving but wont give a story like this a run.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:31 pm
by Aerie
I'm glad the Eagles could win for this youngster. Touching story. Well done WWTFC and the kids at Ronald McDonald house.

Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:32 pm
by spell_check
cd wrote:Please win it this year cos I might not be here next year
That line just left me speechless. A very moving story.
Wedgie wrote:Its a pity the Advertiser goes out of its way to give a page spread if a SANFL player gets caught drink driving but wont give a story like this a run.
Exactly. Apparently it doesn't "sell"


Posted:
Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:23 pm
by eddie eagle
I had a brief chat to Joe back at the club sunday night, saying what respect I had for him for not only his playing efforts, and standing up to gowans x2 etc. But also for his efforts with the kids from the W&C hospital. This was without knowing this story.
Well done to the club.
The advertiser have covered the work that the eagles do with the sick kids in previous articles. Joey was the ringleader from memory.

Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:00 am
by cd
Joe Pedler has been the leader of our charity program - this isn't about WWTFC as i"m certain all clubs do similar - this is about footy and how important it is to our community. As a board member of a club this put what i do into perspective - I have a responsiblity to the game not just my club - long live footy to give our kids that joy and hope.

Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:27 am
by GWW
Good stuff cd

Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:15 am
by Wedgie
Im not sure what we do from a club point of view (I know we had a few close to the Gladstone appeal) but you'd be amazed at the amount of time and memorabilia Barrie Robran still spends on charity work these days. Even his son Jonathan works for a charity that takes disadvantaged kids up into the Flinders for camping trips. I think Barrie's pretty heavily involved with one of the hospitals, can't remember which one.
Somehow he still finds time to work as Marketing Manager at NAFC!

Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:50 am
by TroyGFC
Good work WWT!!! I feel bad now for cheering on Centrals now.