While the headlines this afternoon have focused on yet another injury setback for West Coast’s Beau Waters, the hardnosed defender will draw comfort from his involvement with The Cancer Council Western Australia.
This afternoon the tough-nut was joined by teammates Daniel Kerr, Will Schofield and rookie Will Sullivan at the launch of the Cancer Council’s Me No Hair fundraising campaign, an initiative which encourages people to colour their hair or shave their heads to raise funds for vital cancer research.
While Sullivan took the easy option and had his hair sprayed blue and gold, Schofield and Kerr followed the example set by Waters and enjoyed a close shave. According to his teammates, Kerr may have removed a few “sneaky white hairs” in the process.
Waters surrendered his locks to seven-year-old Chloe Cutts, the two becoming close friends over the past few years as Chloe recovered from a rare form of bone cancer.
“Chloe and I have become great friends and I’ve seen her grow over the last three years,” Waters said. “This is an excellent opportunity for the players to become involved, and also for the people we can affect as well.
“There are also a lot of people out there who aren’t professional sports people who have the same impact on these people and have a strong charitable obligation. It’s an excellent cause and I’m very proud of people who do that.
Despite Waters’ horror injury run which has most recently claimed his elbow, the young defender is philosophical about his time on the sidelines.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure of my return date yet and I think it’s important on a day like this that a small injury doesn’t overshadow the cause that we’re here for,” Waters said.
“That’s why I try and associate myself with things like this because it puts everything into perspective.
“Not only having association with the Cancer Council, but the tragedies that have transpired over on the east coast also again put a minor elbow injury into perspective and the game of football into perspective. So if I can continue my involvement, mentally I’ll be fresh 24/7.”
West Coast and the Cancer Council formed a special partnership in 2005, joining forces to reduce the burden of cancer in the Western Australian community.
As part of the partnership the club hosts Dig Deep Day every year which has so far raised more than $400,000 for the charity.
The Me No Hair initiative has raised almost $2 million dollars since it started in WA in 1999, with the aim for 2009 set at $250,000. To register your involvement, please visit www.cancerwa.asn.au or call 1300 65 65 85.
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