Community rallies behind young players with cancer

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER 26-11-2018

THE COOLBINIA Bombers Junior Football Club is kicking goals for two of its young players.

Thomas Quarmby, 12, and Angus Gow, 13, were diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

The pair have been playing at Coolbinia for years, and club president Rob Geersen said their diagnoses were a shock to the community. – “It was hard, there’s very little you can do,” he said.

But the club rallied behind the boys and started selling tickets for a state-wide raffle – each club that sold tickets could keep the proceeds, and the Coolbinia Bombers decided to split their sales between Angus and Thomas.

“Every team from our five-year-olds to 17-year-olds was involved,” Mr Geersen said.  “It’s the highest amount we’ve ever raised, it touched a lot of people.”

The boys and their families were recently presented with their cheques from the Coolbinia Bombers community.

Angus, a Maylands local, said he loved being part of the club.  “I didn’t realise so many people cared,” he said.

Thomas, from Inglewood, said it was a great surprise to see everyone come together for him and his friend. “There were even people we didn’t know,” he said.

Thomas’s father Matthew said the football club had been brilliant for the boys. “Since Thomas was diagnosed in January, the club has stuck with him,” he said.

Angus’ mother Stacey said her son had been diagnosed with cancer in June, and it had been a rollercoaster ride.  “I’d like to thank the club and community for the love and support we’ve all felt going through this journey,” she said.

“We feel blessed to live in such a community.”

Mr Geersen said sporting clubs were much more than just a place to play sport. “Everyone’s welcome and has a home,” he said.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER 26-11-2018

Categorised in: News

This post was written by Coolbinia Bombers