This year’s Bobby Carolan international rules fixture between the Canterbury Australian Football League (CAFL) and the Gaelic Athletics Association carries special significance.
The match will serve as a fundraiser for six-year-old cancer patient Paige Jury-Lynn.
Paige recently lost her vision due to brain and spine cancer.
She underwent emergency brain surgery in December last year and is still receiving treatment.
Paige is the daughter of Eastern Blues AFL club stalwart, Cory Jury-Lynn.
Jury-Lynn is better known around the CAFL by his nickname ‘Angry’. He has a reputation for clashing with opposition players.
“To be honest, I’m surprised that the boys want to help me. I’m blown away by the support we’re getting from the AFL community. We’ve also had great support from the Child Cancer Foundation and the Blind Foundation.”
CAFL President, Steve Langridge, says the CAFL is pleased to be able to help Jury-Lynn and his family. “We have our moments on the field, but we’re all mates off the field. Angry and his family are part of the AFL community. In an hour of need everyone in the community comes together to help.”
This second annual fixture kicks off at 7:00pm on Friday, 27 July at the Christchurch Football Centre on Yaldhurst Road.
Players on both teams are making donations. The cost of entry for spectators is a gold coin, with all proceeds going towards treatment costs for Paige and her family.
The teams will be competing for the Bobby Carolan International Cup.
The Bobby Carolan International Cup was initiated earlier last year when support was needed for an unwell child. With this in mind, the Gaelic Football community approached the CAFL with the idea of playing a friendly International Rules game. This being a great opportunity to raise funds for a different cause or charity every year.
International rules is a hybrid sport combining Gaelic football and Australian rules.
Training has begun: contact Carson Pullyblank
Last Modified on 18/07/2018 18:22