Thirty special guests will be cheering on the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys in their clash with the New Zealand Warriors at 1300SMILES Stadium this Saturday.
As part of the Cowboys Field of Dreams program and with the support of Tropic Petroleum, residents from the Leukaemia Foundation’s Freemasons Village in Townsville will enjoy a break away from doctors, hospitals and treatment to watch their heroes play for their fourth win in a row.
Blood cancers affect people of all ages, with 31 Australians diagnosed with a blood cancer each week.
Regional Queenslanders diagnosed with blood cancer must often leave their home, family and jobs to seek treatment in Townsville or Brisbane – for weeks, months and in some cases years at a time.
“We provide a home away from home for families from all over the north, from PNG, south to Rockhampton and out west to Mount Isa," Marie Morris, accommodation coordinator at the Townsville Freemasons Village, said.
“To be able to offer accommodation, emotional and financial support and counselling all free of charge, and without direct government funding, we rely on the generosity of private and commercial donations and support for our fundraising campaigns."
These campaigns include the World’s Greatest Shave and U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year, coming up in August.
“Tropic Petroleum’s generous donation of tickets as part of Cowboys Field of Dreams offers a welcome distraction from treatment, which is just what the doctor ordered,” Ms Morris said.
Since it started, the Cowboys Field of Dreams program has given over 2,500 special individuals in the community the opportunity to attend a Cowboys game to watch their team live in action at 1300SMILES Stadium.
“Each game day, one of our Field of Dreams partners donates 30 home game tickets to a charity in recognition of their valuable contributions to our local community," Fiona Pelling, Cowboys General Manager – Community, said.
"Tropic Petroleum’s support of the program means that everyone attending the game will get to learn about the Leukaemia Foundation and their fantastic contribution to the people of North Queensland.”
For more information on the Leukaemia Foundation and the Townsville Freemasons Village, visit leukaemiaqld.org.au.
