On a cold and gloomy winter’s morning, the entire playing group brightened everyone’s day on Monday – handing over a $5,000 cheque to a well-deserving charity.
Thanks to AFL Players Care, a new initiative run through the AFL Players’ Association, captain Marc Murphy was able to present the cheque to Sean, Chris and Damian from the ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) Foundation.
It’s a foundation close to the skipper’s heart – he’s been an ambassador of MAD for the last few years.
“They’re an organisation that does a lot of great work in the community,” Murphy said.
“They direct the money straight through to beneficiaries which is great, so there’s no admin fees which is really important as well, and supports great people like Sean and Chris.
“For the guys to be able to donate $5,000 to them is fantastic and the boys are really happy about it.”
MAD was established in 2001 by a group of lifelong friends and their families, who wanted to help disadvantaged children and young people.
Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $1,400,000, aiding more than 250 families and their carers across Australia.
One of those families includes Chris and his son Sean.
“Sean and myself were both beneficiaries of the MAD Foundation,” Chris said.
“Sean needed a piece of equipment a little over a year ago and the MAD Foundation got on board and supplied and paid for the equipment.
“Due to their overwhelming generosity we’ve become ambassadors for the Foundation.”
Chris says the money presented today could go towards a variety of causes, determined by the needs of families.
“It could be a wheelchair, a walker, a speaking device to help children communicate, a whole world of applications where $5,000 could be really used.”
For the first time this year, AFL Players Care allows every team to decide how its match-day charity contribution is distributed.
Since 2008, every AFL-listed player has donated $25 of each match payment to the AFL Players’ Association’s official charity partner, Ladder, to help tackle youth homelessness.
In 2015, the players, as a collective, suggested that this charity contribution increase from $25 to $50 per player per game.
While $25 per game per player is still being donated to Ladder, an additional $25 per game per player is now contributed to the AFL Players Care fund, amounting to an annual total of $217,800, which is split between charities and clubs.
If you would like to donate to the MAD Foundation please click here.
