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Melbourne Storm Points for a Purpose
Melbourne Storm have chosen the Epilepsy Foundation for the Points for a Purpose game this Saturday 21st August 2010.
People with epilepsy will benefit from the Melbourne Storm’s Points for a Purpose program following the Club’s announcement that the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria is this week’s chosen charity.
Chief executive officer of the Epilepsy Foundation, Mr. Graeme Shears, said the Foundation was thrilled to be working with the Melbourne Storm on this week’s Points for a Purpose.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to not only raise funds for our services, but to build understanding about epilepsy, which is a highly misunderstood condition, in the broader community,” said Mr Shears.
Storm prop Adam Blair and his partner Jessica Bishop are Epilepsy Foundation Ambassadors.
“They are a great young couple who, because of Jess’s epilepsy, have made a real commitment to support the Epilepsy Foundation,” stated Mr. Shears.
“We are proud to have them as ambassadors.”
Epilepsy is a disorder of brain function that takes the form of recurring seizures. It is a considerable community problem, significantly affecting approximately 4 percent or 220,000 people living in Victoria at some stage in their lifetime. Alarmingly, the number of people who are also touched by epilepsy such as family members and carers is estimated to be four times this number, or approximately 880,000 people.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria provides support for people living with epilepsy and their families to help them achieve their goals. Services include information, advice and support, epilepsy counselling and practical assistance, as well as education and training, research and advocacy on behalf of people with epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation also works to raise awareness of epilepsy in the community to reduce the stigma and create a more welcoming and inclusive society.
The Points for a Purpose program has given an extra dimension to Melbourne Storm home games with sponsors providing a special bonus payment to the charity from every point scored. All the proceeds raised from this sponsorship will be given to the Epilepsy Foundation to help provide services and increase awareness of this condition.
A player-driven initiative designed to raise money and awareness for a number of different charities across Australia has been announced – giving Melbourne Storm’s home and away season even greater meaning.
The “Points with a Purpose” program will provide the Storm with greater incentive to produce an attacking brand of rugby league while raising money for some worthy charities.
The initiative was designed by the Storm’s senior leadership group in consultation with the Club and with tremendous support from News Limited.
Companies who have generously contributed to the charitable pool of funds include Channel Nine, Harvey Norman, Foxtel, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, Fox Sports and the Herald and Weekly Times.
Already playing for their members, supporters, sponsors, Club staff and family, the players have now been given extra incentive, with the program having kicked off against the Bulldogs in round 12.
Under the “Points with a Purpose” program, each home game will be dedicated to a different charity, while all money raised from away games will be pooled together and evenly distributed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Men of League Foundation.
The amount of money donated will be calculated using the following structure:
$3,000 for a Storm win
$1,500 for each try scored by a Storm player
$1,000 for each try conversion of penalty goal converted by a Storm player
$500 for each field goal scored by a Storm player
Money raised from the Storm’s on-field performances will be donated to a nominated charity at the conclusion of each home game, with a minimum of $5000 donated whether the team wins, loses or draws.
So far the Alannah and Madeline Foundation ($12,500), the Father Bob McGuire Foundation ($5,000 plus $2,000 collected by volunteers), the Australian Men's Shed Association ($27,000), HeartKids Victoria ($10,500), Challenge ($17,500) and the Australian Wildlife Health Centre ($10,500) have benefited from the Storm's home game contributions so far, while the tally for the away game charities (Make-A-Wish and Men of League Foundations) stands at $28,000 so far.
Storm captain Cameron Smith said that the extra incentive provided by this program to his players for the remainder of the 2010 season would provide them with a timely boost.
“Despite not being able to play for premiership points this year, we had given an undertaking to our members, supporters, sponsors, staff, family members and each other that we would give 100 percent in every game we play in the purple colours of the Storm for the remainder of this year,” said Smith.
“The “Points with a Purpose” now provides us with an even greater incentive.
“We have a visible goal to aim for each and every week and that is to raise as much money as possible for charities that are close to the hearts of both the club and playing group.
“The more points we score, the more money we raise, so I dare say we’ll continue to play an entertaining style of rugby league for the remainder of the year.
“Not only will it be exciting to watch but it will also give us a greater chance of raising funds for charity.”
Based on 2010 statistics, the Storm will donate close to $150,000 to their selected charities over the remaining 14 games of the season.
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Support Nyah and families just like hers by donating to our Christmas Appeal. We need to raise $181,000 to support programs like our emergency medication training.
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Nyah was born with Sturge Weber syndrome, it usually presents with a port wine birthmark and neurological complications. Seizures, often unpredictable and prolonged usually begin early in life.
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