Players Make a Difference

Three Carlton players took time out to visit children in the Royal Children’s Hospital this week.

Aaron Joseph, Dennis Armfield and David Ellard visited the Oncology ward at the RCH to speak with the patients and some of the families who were visiting at the time. For the players it was an important visit and was part of Carlton’s work with the community.

“It is amazing to see the positive reaction we receive when we visit the children and it is a great reminder of how fortunate we are to be able to bring some joy into their lives simply because we are Carlton footballers. It is also an incredible jolt in appreciating how tough life can be for some children and their families. We certainly enjoy a very positive life as AFL footballers,” said Dennis Armfield following the visit.



The players were also helping to promote the fundraising activities that will take place in conjunction with this Saturday night’s match against Essendon at the MCG.

Through Carlton’s joint major sponsor, Hyundai, everyone at the game will be able to donate to the Children’s Cancer Centre Foundation Melbourne, through the Steven Walter Foundation. Volunteers will be outside the ground collecting donations prior to the big match.

Hyundai will also donate $1,000 to the Foundation for every Carlton goal kicked in the match. In addition Hyundai and Carlton are auctioning the opportunity for one person to toss the coin for the game at the MCG on Saturday night. This auction is being conducted on the Carlton Website and all funds raised will be donated to the Foundation.

“We are obviously keen to kick plenty of goals on Saturday night, not just for a win over the Bombers but also to help with the fundraising via Hyundai,” Armfield added.

The Steven Walter Foundation was created after Steven lost his eight-year battle with cancer. It was Steven’s last wish that one day no other kid would have to go through what he had endured.

This year in Australia 500 children will be diagnosed with cancer and one in four of them will not survive. It is the goal of the Foundation to have 100% survival for kids with cancer and to make this a reality it is vital that research and funding is supported.

On Saturday night at the MCG we can all play a role in helping to make Steven Walter’s dream a reality. If you cannot donate at the game you can make a donation to the Steven Walter Foundation online at www.stevenwalterfoundation.org.au

A visit from Carlton players makes a difference to these children and we can all make a real difference by supporting this initiative of Hyundai Motor Company Australia and the Carlton Football Club.

Click here to bid to toss the coin in Saturday night’s game at the MCG