THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY DIGS DEEP TO PURCHASE OVER 130,000 MHF BEANIES FOR BRAIN CANCER
THE BIG THREE TREK FROM SYDNEY TO NEWCASTLE
RAISES OVER $335,500
SCOTT HINGSTON’S MELBOURNE TO NEWCASTLE
1100K’S IN 12 DAYS RUN RAISES $116,000
The NRL and the Australian public has once again upped the ante in the battle against brain cancer for the Mark Hughes Foundation, raising an incredible $3.5 million in the 2025 edition of NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer round.
In what can only be described as a roaring success, a staggering 130,000 MHF Beanie’s were sold in the ninth year of the NRL’s official charity round.
A series of significant major financial contributions pushed the final amount past the 2024 total to exceed the target set by MHF.
70 trekkers formed The Big Three Trek, walking from NRL Headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday 150 kilometres north to Newcastle to raise over $335,000 in three days. The total funds raised over five years by The Big Three Trek now sits at $1.1 million.
Novocastrian Scott Hingston successfully ran from AAMI Park in Melbourne to Newcastle, completing an epic 1100km journey, running 24 marathons in 12 days to raise awareness and $116,000 for brain cancer research.
Sportsbet donated $60,000 after 60 tries were scored across the round, with $1000 donated per try scored.
MHF Founder, Mark Hughes, said: “To see and experience how much this round means to the rugby league community never ceases to amaze me. The reality of living with brain cancer and the devastating effects that it has on so many Australian’s is something that would be easy to find overcoming, but this is never the case for the rugby league community.
“Every beanie is a symbol of hope and even in a cost of living crisis we have 3.5 million new reasons to tackle this insidious disease harder than before. From the bottom of my heart, and every single person attached to the foundation, I say thank you.
“The NRL, Channel 9, Fox League and the entire rugby league media help us share the stories and journeys of our realities and without them we could not make this round the success that it is. The clubs and players happily form the face of the round and behind the scenes there is an army of volunteers that give their time to support us. They are the fabric of what makes this round so special.”
NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, said the power and generosity of the Rugby League community was felt this round.
“The Rugby League community has once again stepped up in the fight against brain cancer. The $3.5m raised through beanie sales and donations is something we can all be proud of as a community.
“This is a time when fans put aside their rivalries and come together in a wonderful show of support for a very worthy cause.
“Congratulations to the Mark Hughes Foundation for the work they have done in leading fundraising and research into fighting brain cancer.”
For remaining stock check your local Lowes, participating Woolworths and IGA stores, or make a donation at markhughesfoundation.com.au to make a difference.
