Fatima Halloum
A crowd of pink filled the field at President’s Park in Wyndham Vale as the Melton Padres Softball club prepared to play their first final, and raise money for cancer awareness.
It was in August of last year when the team learnt the mother of one of the coaches was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.
Coach Xavier Lucchesi decided to organise a pink day as a way to ensure cancer patients felt supported.
Delays caused by COVID-19 meant the club were forced to wait until Saturday March 19 to hold the event.
“Cancer has touched probably near everyone, I have a close family friend who has stage four cancer as well.” Mr Lucchesi said.
“Every club has got someone or knows someone that’s been affected.”
Mr Lucchesi reached out to the softball association and asked them to participate in the event.
“All I did was encourage other clubs to wear a bit of pink, whether it was shoelaces or a playing top or a hat.”
“Just to get the word out there and the conversation, because obviously it is a hard topic to talk about.”
The response was “overwhelming” and Mr Lucchesi said if just one person benefitted from the event, a goal was achieved.
“It doesn’t matter what sport you play or community based environment you’re in, most people are reasonable and come out and support it, whether it’s for cancer, diabetes or heart awareness,” he said.
Mr Lucchesi urged people to reach out to those living with cancer or terminal illness.
“Support is a big thing, whether it’s doing errands for them, going to have a meal with them, that’s the best thing we can do for people with cancer.”
“You can’t help that person but you can help in a little way, just to look after yourself and look after each other.”
Details: fundraise.petermac.org.au/meltonpadressoftballclub
