Goal 4 a Goal

Today's headlines

• Ask Ted about Saturday's game
  Sat, Jul 31, 10
• Missing men hurting Swans: Roos
  Sat, Jul 31, 10
• Swans fall to brilliant Cats
  Sat, Jul 31, 10

Today's videos

• Rd18 Press Conference: Syd
  Sun, Aug 01, 10
• Syd v Geel: Match Summary
  Sat, Jul 31, 10
• Syd v Geel: 1st half
  Sat, Jul 31, 10

The Oncology Children’s Foundation and Sydney Swans last night called in the support of Network Ten to launch the GOAL 4 a GOAL campaign which encourages supporters of both the Swans and the OCF to “kick a goal” for childhood cancer in 2008.

Loveable larrikin Tim Bailey used his nightly weather segment on Network Ten to help kick-off the campaign and he was flanked by OCF Chief Executive Ross Lewis, Swans star and OCF ambassador Peter “Spida” Everitt, some of the Swans cheer squad and importantly some of the children with cancer for the launch on the hallowed turf of the SCG.

OCF is the Swans ‘Official Charity Partner’ and is committed to finding the answer to childhood cancer by providing the sole financial support for the world-first Gene Therapy Program at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead. To help achieve this, the Swans and OCF launched the GOAL 4 A GOAL initiative to be carried out throughout the 2008 AFL season.

GOAL 4 a GOAL is a unique fundraising program where participants pledge a specific amount of money for each goal the Sydney Swans kick during the 2008 season. All money raised from the initiative will go towards funding the five-year $2.5 million Gene Therapy Program, which aims to develop a gene therapy approach to cancer treatment that will reduce side effects and dramatically improve the recovery rate of children with cancer.

Paul Roos, Sydney Swans coach and ambassador for GOAL 4 a GOAL has thrown his full support for the initiative and is urging Swans supporters, their family and friends to help raise $500,000 for OCF by signing up.

“I find OCF’s commitment to such a significant and meaningful research program both inspiring and motivating. I’m giving my full support to the GOAL 4 a GOAL initiative and ask all Swans supporters to do the same,” Roos said.

“We’re proud that OCF – an organisation geared towards such a worthy cause – is the Official Charity Partner of the Swans and I look forward to the team kicking as many goals as we can on the field to help OCF achieve their goals off the field.”

Chief Executive Officer of OCF, Ross Lewis mirrored Roos’ sentiments; “The GOAL 4 a GOAL program is a major fundraising initiative for OCF in 2008 and into the future. Urgent funding for research is needed to help some of Australia’s most talented researchers reach their goal of finding the cure for cancer.”

Supporters of GOAL 4 a GOAL are encouraged to give a minimum of 25 cents per goal, but any amount is welcome and people can nominate the number of games they would like to include – from a single game through to a full season, including finals.

To sign up for the Swans and OCF GOAL 4 a GOAL program, all you have to do is:

Register online at www.sydneyswans.com.au/goal4agoal

A small contribution will make a significant step towards OCF achieving its goal. For example, in 2007 the Sydney Swans kicked 310 goals. At 25 cents per goal, this would have resulted in a donation of $77.50 spread over the course of the season.