Tough West Coast defender Beau Waters was today awarded the Heart of Football by Variety.

The prestigious award is presented each year to a person in the football fraternity who has displayed outstanding commitment to Australian children, and recognises a current AFL player who has inspired Variety through his selfless acts and dedication to children.

Since 2005, Waters has been the club’s player ambassador for the Cancer Council WA and throughout this time, he has not only been integral in helping the West Coast Eagles raise over $600,000 for the organisation, but has gone above and beyond to brighten the lives of children battling with cancer, forging lasting friendships with many of the kids he has met.

“I am honoured to receive this award,” Waters said.

“Being able to meet so many inspirational kids is very humbling and if anything, they’ve had more of an impact on my life than I have had on theirs,” Waters said.

Waters accepted the award from the Governor of Victoria at Variety’s Grand Final Luncheon in Melbourne and now joins an esteemed list of past recipients including Glenn Archer, Matthew Richardson, Joel Bowden, Xavier Clarke, Andrew McLeod and Robert Harvey.

Variety is committed to enabling disadvantaged and disabled children to experience a better quality of life through the provision of goods and services. The charity acts as both an umbrella organisation in helping other children’s groups and charities, as well as raising funds for its own initiatives.