Sport
10 July, 2023
Natte Bealiba raise almost $3000 for National Breast Cancer Foundation to heighten awareness
All the elements were at play on Saturday. Wind, rain, even a power outage at Natte Yallock Recreation Reserve, all threatened to spoil what was a special day on the calendar for Natte Bealiba. However, in true Swans’ spirit, they were able to...
All the elements were at play on Saturday. Wind, rain, even a power outage at Natte Yallock Recreation Reserve, all threatened to spoil what was a special day on the calendar for Natte Bealiba.
However, in true Swans’ spirit, they were able to push through all of that, and were able to put on a good event in the name of charity and awareness for breast cancer, raising $2830 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
It was a big day all round for the Swans. While the footballers may have lost by 13 points to Navarre, the A grade netballers were able to take a win by 35 goals to help keep their minor premiership dreams alive.
More importantly, however, it was a day where the community got together to help rally around breast cancer survivors, as well as the wider community, raising awareness for a cause which has touched the club in the recent past.
As the Swans’ Sam Porter explains, the club jumped at the opportunity to host a themed game, which saw the footballers play with special pink footballs. It was also intended for the netballers to play with a pink ball, but it didn’t materialise.
“It was a really good day. The weather held off a little bit for us, we thought there would be some more rain,” she said.
“To have the pink ball flying around on the field was really good. It would have been nice to have the pink netball as well, but that one didn’t make it to the ground for the day. We were unlucky not to be able to auction off the netball, but the football was sold for $1000.
“(MCDFNL Operations Manager) Tom McGregor contacted (Natte Bealiba president) Ben Williams, asking if we would like to have pink balls for the game, and Ben jumped at the chance to do it.
“He threw it to the committee and we said we’d love to have a breast cancer fundraiser day, similar to how Navarre did it, and as fate turned out, we played against them and put it all together and made it happen.”
The club were able to hold a afternoon tea, with specialised plates of food being sold for $10 in the club rooms, while a raffle was also held, as well as the aforementioned auctioning of the football, which helped account for the Swans’ charity drive.
The clubrooms were also splattered with pink throughout the day, while balloons and other decorations added to create a supportive atmosphere.
Porter says that their inspiration was the community, with the tight-knit Swans renowned for being a family club, while also urging members to continue looking after their body.
“Our very own Sammi Ross was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and she’s been fighting for it. She’s come out of it really well, and only has to have check-ups now. There are other members of the community who have been touched by it either way, so it was all about awareness to get it checked,” she said.
“It’s about the juniors first, going right through to the seniors, that’s what makes the club, we’re one big family, and we have each other’s backs.”
The Swans were also grateful for the assistance and understanding of Navarre, who helped provide prizes in the club’s raffle for the occasion.
“All the prizes were donated from businesses, Natte club members and Navarre club members, who put in as well. We also had proceeds from the raffle, the auctioning of the ball and afternoon tea,” Porter said.