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20 June 2012  

Runaway Bay Seagulls Football Operations Manager Glenn Lee began working at the club last November and said he had been wanting to support a suitable charity. He said with 554 children playing for the club Radio Lollipop and Act for Kids were worthy charities on the Gold Coast.

On Saturday, June 16, the club raised $3200 on its inaugural charity game day and Mr Lee said the funds would be split 50/50 between the two organisations. “My job is to make sure the kids have a place to play – we are one of only a few that have an under 5’s competition – and when I started I decided we needed a charity to support,” Mr Lee said. “I worked with (former Gold Coast State Parliament member) Peta-Kaye Croft and approached the club’s board about supporting some suitable organisations. “The chances of one of our kids needing help from Radio Lollipop or Act for Kids is quite high. “We have already had four or five kids in hospital this year.”

Mr Lee said the club was planning to have an annual event as well as more fundraising activities throughout the year. “It was a normal seniors rugby league game and we included the Under 5’s, Under 17’s Under 19’s, Reserve Grade and Our Flag Ship, the A Grade make a day of it,” he said. “We had the seniors play in 1974 jerseys and they were auctioned off on the night as well as a live band.” During the day, Radio Lollipop volunteers painted faces and entertained with balloon animals and Act for Kids held a barbecue and a jumping castle on the footy sideline.

Club supporter Susan Fitz was at the event to watch her grandchildren play but also enjoyed watching the face painting. “It’s absolutely fabulous what these charities do – they do everything for nothing,” she said. “My grandson who plays at this club was in hospital earlier this year having his appendix out and was involved in Radio Lollipop. “He made friends there who he has stayed in contact with so it’s great when they are sick in hospital to have that.”

Jackson Maslen, 5 who played in the Under 5’s team last year and this year had his face painted batman-style while his father Josh Maslen looked on. “It is a great day – anything for charity is good and raising money for kids in hospital when they are sick is a worthy cause,” he said.

L-R Jack Greer, 10, Radio Lollipop Director Sandra Ursino, Runaway Bay Leagues Football Operations Manager Glenn Lee, Act for Kids Development Manager Sarah Osman, Joel Warwick, 9 and Javan Barnard, 4 (front).