Jane McGrath would be tickled pink and blushing red if she could see cricket fans unite to raise funds for those battling breast cancer, according to her former husband and Australian cricketing great Glenn McGrath.
Fans painted in pink have flocked to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Sydney Pink Test, which raises funds for the McGrath Foundation named in honour of Jane, who died in 2008 from breast cancer aged 42.
“Jane would think this is absolutely amazing,” McGrath said.
“She’d probably be slightly embarrassed everyone’s making such a fuss, but she’d be very proud.”
Cricketing fans have already donated $410,000 in the first two days of the fourth and final Test between Australia and India.
The McGrath Foundation has set an ambitious target of raising $2.1 million before stumps on day five, which would fund 15 breast care nurses for one year who will provide support to patients and families throughout breast cancer treatment.
The great seam bowler and famously poor batsman joked the 11th annual Sydney Pink Test was a milestone, given he always batted at the bottom of Australia’s order.
“The SCG is my favourite ground in the world and 11 is my favourite number, especially in the batting order,” he said.
“It is a very special day and to think what’s been created over the last 11 pink tests is absolutely incredible and we couldn’t have done that without the support of Cricket Australia and the SCG Trust.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be at the ground this afternoon to announce $27 million to fund 41 more specialist nurses for the McGrath Foundation, which more than doubled the federal government’s contribution to the charity.
41 extra nurses will be able to provide care for an extra 4000 patients and their families.
More than 30 of the specialist nurses will be dedicated to supporting metastatic breast cancer patients — women whose cancer has spread to other organs and whose diagnosis is terminal, requiring medical and physiological care.
To donate please head to: www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au
Story Source: NEWS.com.au
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
