Legends of the NRMA Brisbane Broncos Allan Langer, Darren Lockyer, Kevin Walters, Gorden Tallis, Ben Ikin and Shane Webcke are taking to the Softball diamond to ‘Play for a cure’, battling it out against a team of Softball legends in the next big Play for a Cure Yellow Socks Charity Softball Challenge.
To be held on Saturday 8th February at the Downey Park Softball Complex, the event will be hosted by the Play for a Cure Foundation and the Brisbane Softball Association, with the support of the ‘Deadly Choices’ Health Initiative.
Softball legends will include three time Olympian Brooke Wilkins, current Australian captain & Olympian Stacey Porter and current ‘Aussie Spirit’ players Mel Weaver and Chelsea Forkin. Australia’s longest serving softball captain and Olympian Joyce Lester will also be on hand to entertain the crowd.
The inspiration for the event comes from the sad passing of Jannita Dunn, elder sister of Rugby League great Gorden Tallis and Deb McColm the wife of former long time Broncos kicking coach Graham McColm, in late 2009. Both women had strong ties to the Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Softball Association and for Graham and Gorden it was only fitting to create an event in remembrance of them and to broaden the focus on others impacted by cancer.
“I feel humbled to see the people who are selflessly giving their time to find a cure for cancer” McColm stated.
Since the inaugural event four years ago, the Play for a Cure Yellow Socks Charity Softball Challenge has grown each year and is expected to attract its biggest crowd this year.
The day will begin with a warm up session of Touch Rugby League before players take to the pitch to battle it out in the name of cancer.
Aside from being treated to a star studded softball match, attendees can also take part in free rock climbing, face painting, Zumba, traditional games and other free, fun activities coordinated by the ‘Deadly Choices’ crew.
Deadly Choices is a health initiative aimed at engaging with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to promote healthy living and regular health check-ups. It aligns with the Play for a Cure Foundation and Brisbane Softball Association’s promotion of sport and healthy living for all.
Manager of the Deadly Choices initiative Ian Lacey sees the Play for a Cure Yellow Socks Charity Softball Challenge as a perfect opportunity to draw light on an important initiative while encouraging more people to get in and get a health check.
“It is important that we support this event to encourage more people to come in and get a health check while raising awareness around finding a cure for cancer,” Lacey said.
The event also aims to bring to light the great social and health opportunities involved in taking part in the sport of softball.
The teams will suit up in yellow socks representing the daffodil flower used internationally as the flower and colour of HOPE for a cure to cancer.
Fans will also get the unique opportunity to win a spot playing on each team by getting online and auctioning for a position in this wonderful event.
To win a place on the team got to www.playforacure.com.au/auction-page/ and click on the bid tab. The top two bids will win a spot on the teams. The auction will open on Thursday 30th January at 5pm and close on Thursday 6th February at 5pm. The successful bidders will be contacted by email with payments accepted through PayPal.
All are welcome to attend this one-of-a-kind charity event. Admission is free but a gold coin donation on entry would be appreciated. There will be a major raffle with great prizes, plenty of food, drinks, & the aforementioned fun participation activities, which will add to the festive atmosphere of the day.
All funds raised will go to support cancer research programs supported through the Play for a Cure Foundation and to junior softball development through the Brisbane Softball Association.
Tax deductable donations can also be made directly by visiting clicking here. Or you can help us out by purchasing a yellow wristband to wear on the day to show your support. See below.
To see the Broncos’ ‘Inside Broncos’ TV segment on last year’s Yellow Socks Charity Softball Challenge, click here.
Media are also encouraged to attend the event.
Updated 5/2/14 – Broncos Legends team list
| Name | NRL | Origin | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Langer | 258 | 34 | 22 |
| Darren Lockyer | 355 | 36 | 59 |
| Kevin Walters | 292 | 20 | 11 |
| Scott Prince | 300 | 5 | 4 |
| Michael DeVere | 163 | 5 | 4 |
| Petero Civoniceva TBC | 309 | 33 | 50 |
| Shane Webcke | 254 | 21 | 25 |
| Ben Ikin | 150 | 17 | 2 |
| Gorden Tallis | 212 | 17 | 8 |
| Brooke Ross-Gilder - Public Auction Winner | |||
| Bron Dunn | Bat Girl | ||
| Asst Coach- Tyleisha Dunn | Jannita's daughter and Gorden?s niece - Tyllie is a State representative player | ||
| Coach - Wally Tallis Snr | Jannita's and Gorden's father |
Updated 29/1/14 – Play for a Cure Legends team list
| Name | Aus Caps | World Series | Olympics | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooke Wilkins | 197 | 3 | 3 | P4AC President P4AC Masters Team player Ass Coach of the winning 2014 Qld U19 Women's team |
| Melinda Weaver | 92 | 1 | Current Aussie Spirit player Captain of the QLD heat team |
|
| Kim Cooper | 183 | 1 | 1 | Current Qld Heat Ass coach P4AC Masters team member P4AC board member |
| Kelly Mc-Kellar-Nathan | 95 | 1 | P4AC Ambassador P4AC Masters Team member |
|
| Chelsea Forkin | 111 | 1 | Current Aussie Spirit Player | |
| Marissa Warburton | 175 | 2 | 1 | P4AC Masters Team player |
| Stacey Porter | 327 | 3 | 2 | Current Aussie Spirit captain |
| Anne Vogler | 2 | Long time Qld heat representative P4AC masters team player P4AC board member Coach of the winning 2014 Qld U19 women's team |
||
| Paige Delacour | Captain of the 2014 U19 Women's National Champions | |||
| Georgia Blair | Captain of the 2014 Qld U17 girls team Member of the 2014 Qld U19 team - national champs |
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| Toni Sweeney - Public Auction winner | ||||
| Fabian Barlow - Coach | 1 | 1 | Former Aussie Spirit Head coach Current Qld Heat head coach |
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What: Play for a Cure Yellow Socks Charity Softball Challenge’ Where: Downey Park Softball Complex, Green Terrace, Windsor When: Saturday 8th February 2014, from 10am for Deadly Choices activities and Midday for the Broncos v P4AC legends touch and softball game
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact: Leigh Martyn leigh@playforacure.com.au, Graham McColm – 0400 897898, Jason Greenhalgh (Media Contact) – 0400 716 166, Glenda Tanna – 0422 563 340 or glenda.tanna@iuih.org.au
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