Junior Lions’ fundraiser a roaring success

By Richard Withers

The junior AFL club easily surpassed their goal of raising $15,000, with 180 guests treated to a lunch, raffle and charity auction.

The majority of the funds will go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nepean Hospital with the cheque being handed over at the club’s presentation day on October 13.

Event organiser and Club Vice President Sean Hogan was delighted at the support given to an important cause.

“This was an amazing result,” said Mr Hogan. “It’s all about helping families during a very difficult time.

“We’re committed to growing our club whilst teaching our players the importance of giving back to the local community and helping them understand from an early age the value of community involvement – and this was the perfect sponsorship to allow us to do so.”   

Andrew Voss kept guests entertained as the day’s MC and legendary AFL coach Kevin Sheedy shared some of the highlights and unique insights of a playing and coaching career that has spanned over 1000 AFL games.

The Lions are a not for profit junior AFL club that is benefiting from the growth of the game in AFL NSW/ACT and recent developments in the Western Sydney region.

47 players took to the field when the club was founded in 2000 and steady growth ever since has seen the club register over 160 players in 2013.

Given equal importance to the development of young players on the field is the Lions’ approach to educating their players in community involvement and embracing initiatives that give back to the community.