The Forest Hill Football Club will this weekend raise awareness for a cause that has sadly hit far too close to home in the past.
In conjunction with the Coldstream Football Club, the Zebras will hold a cancer awareness match and fundraiser through current player Jake Rowe on Saturday, whose family like many others know all too well of the devastating results of the insidious disease.
Coldstream coach Michael Cardamone and player Leigh Odermatt have also been staunch drivers of support in the joint-effort between the two clubs.
Both sides will wear yellow armbands as the community pays their respects to anyone who has lost a loved one or has ever supported a loved one battling cancer.
This year alone, it is estimated that over 134,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia, while the risk of an individual losing their life to cancer by their 85th birthday will be one in five, including one in four males and one in six females.
Rowe’s mother and Forest Hill Football Club secretary Gayle Wood, whose son Adam passed away six years ago, says her late son has never been forgotten by the Zebras family as he continues to be the driving force behind a community effort to stamp-out cancer.
“Jake Rowe has run a cancer awareness fundraiser event since his brother Adam passed away in 2011 at the age of 32 (and) although Adam played football mostly with Belgrave in the YVMDL, he was a keen supporter of the EFL and his beloved Kangaroos, and especially his brother Jake,” Wood said.
It is an event which Jake has brought from Canterbury Football Club where he played two seasons, in which time his brother Adam passed away.
Since transferring from Canterbury at the end of 2012, Jake has continued his event at the Zebras to an overwhelming reception of support, as many of the Forest Hill family have been touched by cancer in the past.
“Jake started the event through Canterbury FC and has continued this awareness event whilst currently playing with Forest Hill,” Wood said.
“Many people have been touched by cancer and through our involvement at Forest Hill (and) as a family we have tried to continue to raise awareness of how many people are affected, especially young people in the prime of their lives.”
On what is also a day of remembrance and reflection for the Zebras community, the club remembers Darren Lawson who also lost his life at a young age a few years back, as the Forest Hill faithful continues to rally around the Lawson family.
“Forest Hill lost one of its young people, Darren “Henry” Lawson a few years back and this is a great day for the Lawson family to remember Darren and know that the Forest Hill family thank them for their continued involvement at Forest Hill and also remember fondly their son,” Wood said.
The conclusion of Saturday’s match will be marked with awarding the best player afield.
“A medal in honour of my son and Jake’s brother will be presented to the best on the ground after the game (and) the medal will be named after Adam and donated by our family along with $500 to start the donations off,” Wood said.
Proceeds on the day will go to the Leukaemia Foundation. If you wish to make a donation, please click here.
Forest Hill v Coldstream – Saturday, 15 July at Forest Hill Reserve.
Reserves – 12.05pm
Seniors – 2.10pm