The Cootamundra Bulldogs have introduced two new jerseys in preparation for this week’s fixture against the UC Stars at Les Boyd Oval.
The jerseys both represent great causes, with the Bullettes wearing a pink and white strip for the McGrath Foundation which raises money for breast cancer nurses right around Australia who provide essential care to both women and men who have breast cancer. The men’s jersey is blue, yellow and pink, representing Beyond Blue. Beyond Blue raises awareness of depression, anxiety and suicide prevention, reducing the stigma around said issues and encouraging those to rather than suffer in silence, seek support when they need it.
Around 21,000 people each year are diagnosed with breast cancer, whilst around 1 in 5 Australians suffer from some form of mental health issues, which nearly guarantees that the two charities the Bulldogs are sup- porting this year will be close to home for everyone.
President of the Club Stephen Howse hopes the Club can raise money and is encouraging the people of Cootamundra to help these great causes.“It came about from our players and coaching staff, as everyone’s aware at the moment of mental health struggles that are affecting so many people. We’ve done things for charity before but we would usually just do the first-grade jumpers whereas this year we contacted the McGrath Foundation and got the women’s jerseys as well,” Stephen said. “There’s been a lot of people in the community who have been affected by cancer, if you look close to the club even at the Cooper family who have a lot to do with our Club and their son Joey who passed away recently from cancer so we thought we should do something for cancer as well in this current climate.
“Around ANZAC time the Roosters came out with a jersey which is a bit similar to ours and they kind of inspired the jerseys we came up with, there were a few different ideas but once we saw that jersey it was unanimous.”
To bid on the jerseys before Saturday you can go on the Bulldogs Facebook page and follow the link attached to the page, if computers aren’t your thing but you’d like to bid on a jersey you can also head down to the Ex-Services Club after the game against UC and bid on the jerseys there whilst enjoying a cold one.
All money raised will be split 50/50 between the two charities, jerseys go up to 3XL and allow anyone to take home a piece of Bulldogs history with their inaugural women’s charity jerseys.
It’s a big step up from the crazy sock days the Club has done in the past, and Howse is happy about it. “It’s a great opportunity for the lady players to get amongst it and help out with raising money, I can’t remember the last time we had it that people could bid on jerseys so hopefully we get a few bids from player’s mums, siblings, grandparents or even some of the Canberra players if they have enough to drink, we will sell them to anyone as long as we raise as much money as possible for charity.”
Tully Potts