Being the mother of an AFL footballer would be an inevitably stressful job; watching your child, your pride and joy, get tackled, hit and thrown around on the football field week after week.

But at the West Coast Eagles, there is a special group of mums who not only concern themselves with the wellbeing of their own sons, but the wellbeing of children less fortunate as well.

Eight MOPs (Mothers of Players) as they have dubbed themselves, are preparing to spend a week in Cambodia where they will volunteer at two orphanages and visit the school in Koh Kong which was built using funds raised by the West Coast Eagles Football Club.

The women have been inspired by the club’s work with the Tabitha Foundation, a charity that aims to improve the lives of families and communities in Cambodia.

Every two years, the West Coast Eagles Football Club travels to Cambodia with first and second year players. As part of the club’s development program, the trip aims to take players out of their comfort zones and expose them to the hardships experienced by many Cambodians.

The group also builds houses for communities, providing shelter for 150 people, including 109 children in 2010. Last year, the West Coast Eagles took their commitment to the Tabitha Foundation one step further, raising enough money to build a school in Cambodia which is now attended by more than 500 students.

Aileen Glass, Mary Cox, Anne Embley, Kathy Lynch, Desley Mackenzie, Monica Masten, Sharon Priddis and Pamela Stratford (mother of Sam Butler) will be able to see this handiwork for themselves when they visit the school in November.

The MOPs are fundraising to build an extension to the school which Mrs Stratford says is much needed.

“Five hundred kids turned up to the school on day one, some walking 12km to get there. You can imagine if we built an extension on to the school, we will be helping out so many more kids,” she said.

“We are so lucky with our boys living their dreams as AFL players, so we want to fulfil the dreams of the Cambodian children, in some small way.”

Through raffles, quiz nights and sausage sizzles, the women are also hoping to raise $1000 each to buy resources for the orphanages.

For information on how to donate or help the MOPs with the incredible cause, click here.