The West Coast Eagles will recognise members whose lives have been touched by cancer at its annual Dig Deep for Cancer Council WA round on Saturday.
The club will invite supporters who have overcome cancer, those undergoing treatment or caring for a loved one with cancer and fans who wish to honour the memory of someone they lost to cancer to stand together in a guard of honour at the beginning of West Coast’s clash with Melbourne at Domain Stadium.
The initiative is a new feature of what has been an important fixture in the club’s calendar for the past 11 seasons.
Dig Deep match day, proudly supported by Caltex, has raised more than $1.1 million for Cancer Council WA, Western Australia's leading, independent, evidence-based cancer research organisation.
Edith Cowan University post-doctoral research fellow Carolyn McIntyre said funds raised during the club's 2015 Dig Deep campaigns helped fund exercise programs for those who were fortunate enough to beat the disease.
“Thanks to West Coast Eagles and the Dig Deep fundraising campaign we are able to research ways exercise can help improve the lives of cancer survivors,” she said.
“We believe that exercise offers great potential as a therapy not only to reserve treatment related side-effects but also to increase the quality and quantity of life for cancer survivors.”
In addition to raising funds via its Dig Deep wristbands available at the West Coast Eagles Team Store and Caltex service stations, West Coast will run a Dirty Boots Online Auction at the conclusion of the round 18 clash.
Cancer Council WA ambassadors Luke Shuey and Andrew Gaff will be signing and auctioning their boots from the fixture and all profits will be donated to Cancer Council WA.
The Dirty Boots Online Auction will go live at the end of the match. You can register for the auction by clicking here.
Tin shakers will also be stationed outside Domain Stadium to take donations and those without cash can head to https://heroix.everydayhero.com.au/event/give/hero_page/dig-deep/donate to pledge contributions online.
