On Sunday 29 March, Western United FC and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation will join forces for Kick It For Brain Cancer 2020.
The Hyundai A-League Round 25 fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers will raise vital funds and awareness to help find a cure for brain cancer, the disease which kills more Aussie kids than any other.
Volunteers from the local brain cancer community will collect donations and sell merchandise at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, at the game which will be broadcast on Fox Sports and streamed on Kayo Sports and the MyFootball Live app.
Western United FC’s players will wear unique Kick It For Brain Cancer jerseys, provided by Kappa, to mark the occasion.
Western United Head Coach and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation Ambassador Mark Rudan has an incredibly close personal connection to the disease.
His mother, Ana, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018. Mark and his sister Mariana were shocked about the lack of options for their mother, which inspired them to create Kick it For Brain Cancer.
In 2018, the initiative raised more than $90,000 for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and generated widespread awareness for the cause.
Mark Rudan said: “Until my mother was diagnosed with Brain Cancer, you had no idea about the alarming statistics particularly around the number of young adults and children who were affected by this awful disease.
“More kids die of brain cancer than any other disease in Australia and more kids play Football than any other code. That is why football needs to play a role in helping spread the word.
“Together we can make a difference.”
Dustin Perry, Head of Partnerships at Cure Brain Cancer Foundation added: “For so long, brain cancer has been ignored at every level. To know that we now have the support of national sporting codes and clubs like Western United is hugely encouraging for my family and for the brain cancer community.
“And I’d like to thank Mark, Chris Pehlivanis and everyone associated with Western United for their passion and commitment to this project.
To learn more about Kick It For Brain Cancer including how you can get involved at a grassroots level visit www.curebraincancer.org.au/kickitforbraincancer.
