Next month's 2020 Kicking for Cancer game at Rumbalara Football Netball Club is a perfect example of an event driven by the passion of a few people, which has the capacity to uplift the lives of many.
Founded by former AFL player and manager to the stars Ricky Nixon last year, the not-for-profit enterprise is based on the simple idea of a footy game played by people who have beaten cancer and who would naturally become inspiration to others currently battling the same cruel disease.
Then at the end of last year, the idea evolved into a charity to help grant wishes to kids with cancer.
Ricky has a personal stake in the charity, having lost his mother to cancer at 57 years old.
Next month's game is a huge affair. It matches two teams, City vs Country, and features a host of ex-AFL superstars such as Warwick Capper, Greg Williams and Jake King. A Legends Dinner will follow the game, hosted by media stars Rex Hunt and Sam Newman.
Of course, what sounds simple and straightforward on the surface has taken months of planning, meetings, spruiking, promoting and phone calls. Security, caterers, public address systems, live music, merchandise sales, traffic control, all this has come about through commitment and passion with a single motive — to help children and their families through the terrifying journey that cancer presents.
The pay-offs for the wider community are large. Positive engagement on a personal and organisational level, the recognition that our indigenous community plays a central leadership role and is a hub of inspirational energy, and the realisation that cancer need not be the end of all the good things that life has to offer.
The Kicking for Cancer idea is the perfect example of a powerful tool used by so many facing adversity — turning the problem into the solution.
We congratulate everyone involved in bringing this event to Rumbalara.
We are sure there is still much to be done, but the hardest work is over — the idea is a winner and a date and place is set.
All we have to do is turn up.