As the grand inner city rivals Carlton and Collingwood prepare to resume hostilities at the MCG on Friday night, the focus of a grateful community once again turns to the institution that is the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Peter Mac Cup for which the two Melbourne powerhouses play.

Based on an idea from the long-serving Carlton patron and number one ticket holder, Sam Smorgon, the Peter Mac Cup was founded in 1993 and is acknowledged as the first “charity game” featured on the AFL calendar. It was established as a means of raising funds and awareness for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, which provides outstanding patient care, research and education to the people of Victoria.

Originally the Peter Mac Cup was played for at the Carlton home game in the even years and the Collingwood home game in the odd years, however since 2010 the Peter Mac Cup has been played for at the Collingwood home game with the Richard Pratt Cup played for at Carlton’s home game against the Magpies.

“The Peter Mac Cup is an important event for the Carlton Football Club, it is part of our work in the community and we are proud to be involved in this special event, working with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre,” said Carlton captain Chris Judd.

“All Carlton and Collingwood supporters know how big the rivalry is between the two clubs but this is an occasion when we join together in the fight against cancer and help raise funds for Peter Mac,” added Judd.

The centre’s philanthropic arm is the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, which lends support through the staging of fundraising events such as the Peter Mac Cup Breakfast, held in the week prior to the big game.

This year’s breakfast will be hosted by Tim Lane, with a panel including the respective Carlton and Collingwood Senior Coaches Brett Ratten and Nathan Buckley, together with the Blues’ forward Jarrad Waite and the Magpies’ defender Nick Maxwell.

The Peter Mac Cup will be presented in the winning team’s rooms following Friday night’s match, together with medals for all winning players. Supporters are encouraged to donate online through the Peter Mac Cancer foundation website.

Click here to donate directly online at the Peter Mac Foundation.