Sydney Swans defender Harry Cunningham has today been named as a finalist for the 2022 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
Cunningham has been nominated for the work he does with the club's charity partner Redkite. Redkite is a lifeline for families facing childhood cancer, providing critical emotional, financial and practical support.
For more than nine years, Cunningham has shown unwavering community leadership in his position as Redkite Ambassador. Each year, Harry has used his public profile to galvanise support for Redkite, both with the Swans' fanbase and broader football community.
Harry has consistently visited the children's cancer ward at Sydney Children's Hospital across this time. His warm and sincere personality makes him a favourite among both parents and children as he works with Redkite's Music Therapist at patients' bedsides. When the pandemic hit, despite the challenges the club and players faced, Harry's first question was "how can we continue to support Redkite kids and families?" As hospital visits were forbidden, Harry continued his visits virtually and encouraged other players to participate.
Through his involvement, Harry has helped to alleviate the constant stress facing families on the cancer ward, providing distraction and joy while creating long lasting memories. Harry is a role model to other players and continues to inspire younger players to get involved, generating essential funding, and making a huge difference to childhood cancer awareness in Sydney and across Australia.
The AFL today confirmed the four finalists with Cunningham, Dylan Moore (Hawthorn Football Club), Adam Saad (Carlton Football Club), Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats Football Club) the four finalists named.
In its eleventh year, the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award recognises the values of the late former Melbourne Hall of Fame champion and Club President, Jim Stynes. These values are a commitment to the community, to helping others, to making a difference and to representing the game of football both on and off the field. 2022 saw many players impact their community, however, these finalists went above and beyond.
The 2022 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award will be presented as part of the broadcast of the 2022 Brownlow Medal on Monday, September 19.
Past winners include Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak (2021), Richmond's Bachar Houli (2020), GWS GIANTS' Stephen Coniglio (2019), Melbourne's Neville Jetta (2018), Port Adelaide's Jack Hombsch (2017), Geelong's Jimmy Bartel (2016), Carlton's Dennis Armfield (2015), West Coast Eagles' Beau Waters (2014), Gold Coast Suns' Zac Smith (2013) and Richmond's Daniel Jackson (2012).
Nominations for the award are formed from AFL Clubs and the AFL Players Association before the judging panel selects the four finalists.
Proudly supported by Telstra, the AFL and the Jim Stynes Foundation, the winner will receive $40,000 to be donated to the charity or community program of their choice.
