MEDIA RELEASE: Sunday, June 16
THE AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC DIGS DEEP TO PURCHASE OVER 135,000 MHF BEANIES FOR BRAIN CANCER
THE BIG THREE TREK FROM SYDNEY TO NEWCASTLE RAISES OVER $230,000
The Australian public has rallied behind the Mark Hughes Foundation this week to raise an astonishing $3.1 million in the 2024 edition of NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer round.
In what can only be described as a roaring success, a staggering 135,000 MHF Beanie’s were sold, exceeding expectations set in the eighth year of the NRL’s official charity round and setting a new online sales record.
Significant financial contributions were made throughout Beanie Round that pushed the final amount to the target set by MHF. Forming TheBig Three Trek, 64 trekkers departed NRL Headquarters in Sydney on Friday to walk 150 kilometres across three days in torrential rain on their way to McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle raising over $230,000 for MHF.
Sportsbet donated$66,000 after 66 tries were scored across the round, with $1000 donated per try scored.
MHF Founder, Mark Hughes, who was on site at McDonald Jones Stadium for the final game of Beanie Round, said: “The rugby league community seems to find a way to lift every year, no matter what’s going on in the world. We understand that financially times are tough for everyone in the country right now, so to help us raise $3.1 million dollars is just incredible. It will never be lost on us how special it is for people to still find it important to buy a beanie or donate to MHF ”
“What the wider media does this week to act as a megaphone for our cause, and help build the awareness and support cannot be measured.
“I have to extend a gigantic thank you to the NRL, Channel 9, Fox League and the entire rugby league media for sharing stories of our brain cancer warriors, reinforcing the dire statistics and facts on brain cancer through all platforms is what makes it so real for people to understand why this round is so important.
“On behalf of the MHF team and our army of volunteers who all work so hard, we simply want to say thank you to every single person who contributed to our cause. We are blessed to be surrounded by this amazing community, and more determined and motivated than ever to continue our fight to tackle this insidious disease. By embracing a ‘one team’ mentality, where competition gives way to collaboration, we will keep make progress in the fight against brain cancer.”
NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, said the power and generosity of the Rugby League community was felt this round. “There is nothing more inspiring than when the Rugby League community unites behind a worthy cause,” Mr Abdo said.
“Players and fans all wearing beanies at matches this weekend meant that once again we were able to raise awareness and much needed research funding for fighting brain cancer. This will hopefully help save many lives in the future.
“Thank you to everyone who contributed and congratulations to Mark Hughes and the Foundation for leading the fight against this disease.”
This season’s designs are still available online or at participating Lowes and IGA stores to purchase.
Brain Cancer statistics
• Survival rates have increased by 1% over the last 35 years
• Kills more children than any other disease
• Only 2/10 people diagnosed will live more than 5 years
• Kills more people under 40 than any other cancer
• Receives less than 5% of federal funding for cancer research
• One person every 5 hours is diagnosed in Australia
About NRL Beanie Round and MHF
2024 is the eighth NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round since it began in 2017. The officially themed NRL round was the idea of former Channel 9 NRL producer Matt Callander in collaboration with MHF, who bravely battled a stage 4 Glioblastoma himself. He sadly lost his battle with brain cancer in October 2017.
The Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) is a charity formed in Newcastle by Mark and Kirralee Hughes following Mark’s diagnosis with Brain Cancer in 2013. The Mark Hughes Foundation’s mission is to raise much needed funds for research, to create awareness and support brain cancer patients and their families.
2024 MHF BEANIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE HERE
