A FOOTBALL fundraiser in Osborne Park has raised nearly $4500 to support people with mental health issues.
Osborne Park Amateur Football Club held its annual charity round on June 9 to raise money for beyondblue.
Committee member Lucas Sartori said the club started the fundraiser after one of its members took their own life six years ago.
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READ NOW“With the help of their family, we came together as a club and decided to start this day to raise as much money and awareness as possible,” he said.
“As a club, we have partaken in a conscious effort to raise awareness within our community and its broader outreach to tackle these issues and the stigma that comes with them.
“We want to break down the ‘man up and get over it’ culture that can be, sometimes, synonymous with football clubs and make not only our club but every club an open and inclusive environment where everyone feels safe to talk and let their mates know they might be struggling.”
The club held a raffle and sausage sizzle during its round 9 matches against Manning, and collected online donations.
Mr Sartori believed efforts to promote mental health were working.
“Ten-plus years ago mental health was barely discussed, let alone within sporting clubs and I feel like in recent times it is getting addressed better than ever,” he said.
“We have new guys who join the club who readily admit they were a bit naive to it all and then to see them not only embrace the day but then become a staunch advocate for it, means we are on the right track.”
Donations can still be made at bit.ly/2MkaFms.
If you or someone you know needs help:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au
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