Bradbury Ambarvale Football Club raises funds for breast cancer
The Macarthur based club, which is running its campaign from April to October 2009, has tasted some early success with its home-game sales of breast cancer merchandise.
?The canteen has sold over 250 shoelaces already with half the club owning a pair,? said BAFC?s Publicity Officer, Ross Duckitt.
?The whole club has really supported the campaign and we have had to order additional merchandise just to keep up with demand.
?It?s wonderful for our family-friendly club to give something back to the community through a significant cause,? added Duckitt.
The merchandise consists of shoelaces $4.00, wrist bands, $6.00 and ?thunder sticks?, $3.00, all of which can be purchased at every BAFC match.
The club is also looking to host a Pink Shirt Game Day, where the reserve and first grade squads will take the field wearing pink shirts in hope to raise further funds. The game will be played at Lynwood Park on Saturday 27th June, with the reserve grade kicking off at 5:30pm followed by a 7:30pm start for the first grade in what is looking to have an ?A-League? feel to the whole event.
?We are encouraging family and friends to turn up in numbers and help support our cause towards breast cancer research,? said Duckitt.
?A gold coin donation is all we [BAFC] ask with all entry and canteen proceeds going straight towards this amazing charity.?
The club has even adopted a new ball to coincide with its support towards breast cancer research. Every age group, except the Premier League squad (First Grade and Reserves), currently uses a special Mitre ?Pink Ribbon? ball in all its home matches.
The Premier League squad, who are unable to use the special ball due to the M-League?s contract with Errea, decided they needed to do a little extra. With their own money, the squad managed to raise enough dollars to buy the rights to bear the official National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) logo on their left sleeve.
?In order to have the official NBCF logo on the first grade?s sleeve, the club had to ask for special permission from the foundation,? said Duckitt.
?The boys were persistent in their desire to help out further and eventually the permission was granted.?
The NBCF is the leading national not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. Since its establishment in 1994, the Foundation has awarded more than $55 million to 230 breast cancer research projects across Australia.
With 13,600 women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 alone, Bradbury Ambarvale Football Club hopes its vital contribution ensures the NBCF can keep working towards a cure and help many lives along the way.
The club is urging support across NSW, especially within the Macarthur region to help raise money and is inviting supporters to be part of the Pink Shirt Game Day on the 27th June in what will undoubtedly be a fun filled night. The Reserves kick off at 5:30pm while the First Grade starts their match at 7:30pm.
Additionally, you can show your support by purchasing NBCF merchandise or donating funds by contacting Ross Duckitt on publicity.officer@bradburybears.org.au
-By Caetano Lima
