Recently we had a blog - and request for financial assistance to a Doggies supporter on here - and I must say the 1 Eyed Eel community did themselves proud by jumping in to help a guy and his family in genuine need.
At last count I think the total donations topped around $15K
From that, some of us have been getting our heads together and thought in view of ONE pathetic individual vetoeing a presentation (on religious grounds) of a signed jersey at the school of a recently deceased young 13 yo lad who donated organs to SIX recipients the NRL should have an Organ Donor Awareness round during the 2016 season.
Progress is being made with media and Raelene Clarke (CEO Canterbury Bankstown RLC)
It came to light recently that both 1EE and the Kennel have a member each requiring an organ transplant.
I would bet London to a Brick on that EVERY club would have at least one member in the same situation.
To make this work we need to have at least a couple of clubs supporting this move and then we can take it to the NRL to hold an official round for Organ Donation Awareness.
We have the Breast Cancer round, Rise for Alex round, the Women in League round and several others.
This is about NRL supporters and fans as a whole - without the supporters and fans there simply would NOT be an NRL - so how about the NRL doing something for the people who fund and support Rugby League.
If any of you have contacts that we can talk to - or wish to become involved in promoting this at club and NRL level then jump right in and be heard.
Any and all assistance would be welcome.
I am more than prepared to come down to Sydney to present a proposal to clubs and the NRL if we can get this happening.
Over to you, good people of 1EE - any contacts? any suggestions?
There is also a blog in the Kennel, on this, which is starting to ramp up
Replies
This is the blog over in the Kennel
Donor Awareness - Worksheet
Farking brilliant Rise.
Great blog Col, mate can you explain more about the person stopping the jersey presentation at a school?
Jehovah's Witness who does NOT believe in organ transplant Snake.
The presentation was supposed to be by the Doggies at Kellyville School about 1 or 2 weeks back.
The Principal folded under such "immense" pressure on religious grounds and cancelled the presentation.
BIG BUMP !
There have been a few of us from both camps quietly working to bring about Drop Bear's idea for an Organ Donor Awareness Round.
Long story short - THIS WEEKS GAME should (hopefully) have some recognition of Peter's dream.
Unfortunately Tamara (Eels PR who originally contacted me) went off to have a baby - Michael Basson went to work on this and evidently obtained permission from Men in League for us to have a grab during half time BUT things went a bit pear shaped and it got lost in the works somewhere.
On Monday I was contacted by Josh Drayton to see what we could put together for Thursday night.
In the meantime I ran into a pretty serious medical problem and time became our enemy.
As you can see from this original blog this goes back nearly 2 years since we started.
NOW - if Josh does manage a grab at half time Thursday night please - PLEASE join with the guys from the Kennel and roar like there is no tomorrow in recognition of Drop Bear's efforts - to recognise Assassin's (now known as Tank 2.0 over in the Kennel) fight and hopefully Organ Donor Awareness round (probably through Nathan Gremmo Jersey Day) becomes a permanent fixture with the NRL.
Changes of staff at the Eels, Dogs and NRL have made this a long hard fight but we will not be giving up to see this become a reality.
Congratulations to the Eels for continuing to support this (although things haven't gone as we would have liked) but it is really great to see they have not forgotten the "little people" who made this a great club for so many years.
Bernie Gurr got directly involved once it was brought to his attention and through the efforts of Tamara, Michael Basson and Josh Drayton we have managed to achieve something which could become a permanent thing.
I know the Dogs were supporting this but have not had direct contact with them (that was done by guys from the Kennel) but they have also had their difficulties with staff turn over.
Many disappointments along the way but we may get there in the end.
I also know Phil has been quietly monitoring (and possibly having some input) so all round we are getting there.
Drop Bear Jnr cannot make it to the game as originally anticipated but no doubt will be watching on TV
GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT WHEN YOU SEE IT COME UP AT HALFTIME - I know the Kennel will be cheering.
Wouldn't it be ironic if this turned out to be THE game of the year and ended in a draw.