West Coast Eagles Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis plus team mate Mark LeCras and World Champion boxer Erin McGowan are lending their star power to help grieving West Australian families in their time of need by supporting the SIDS and Kids annual Sunshine Beach Run.
The Sunshine Beach Run was founded by West Coast Eagles physiotherapist Chris Perkin in 2012, after the tragic loss in 2009 of his stillborn baby son Jake, and his wife Cindy just a week later.
“We started the Sunshine Beach Run four years ago when we had this idea in the memory of our little baby boy Jake and my wife Cindy,” Perkin said.
“And for anyone who’s had a loss, basically to help raise awareness and funds for SIDS and Kids who try and find answers for the loss of children.”
A not-for-profit organisation, SIDS and Kids is calling on West Australians to help support this vital service by taking part in the 2015 Sunshine Beach Run at City Beach on Sunday, March 22.
Every year in Western Australia dozens of families experience the heartbreaking sudden and unexpected loss of a baby or child. SIDS and Kids operates a free counselling service to help those affected when they need it most.
2014 Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis says is proud to get behind such a great cause in support of one of its great friends in Perkin.
“Chris has been a really important part of the West Coast Eagles for such a long time and his loss of his family members really touched all of us at the club,” Priddis said.
“For us to be part of the campaign and to help raise awareness for such a great foundation it’s really important to me to get involved.”
According to SIDS and Kids, in WA one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, five WA babies are stillborn each week and 71 babies will not live past 28 days and the organisation supports families who experience the sudden and unexpected death of their baby or child, regardless of the cause.
The Sunshine Beach Run is a morning of fun for the whole family while raising much needed funds and awareness for SIDS and Kids, something Eagles sharp shooter Mark LeCras can vouch for after taking part in the run with his daughter Molly last year.
“I took my little daughter down there into the fun zone that they have down there, I think they’re going to have the obstacle course again this year,” LeCras said.
“I know we’ve got a NAB Challenge game that afternoon but I think I’ll try and get down there and do it again.”
