Richmond backs Buddy Bags at its 2 August match
Richmond Football Club will dedicate its Round 21 match against the West Coast Eagles at the MCG on Sunday 2 August to raising funds for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s Buddy Bags programme.
The annual match day fundraiser asks the Tiger Army to help vulnerable children who enter emergency care with nothing but the clothes they are wearing.
According to the foundation, a child in Australia enters emergency care every hour because they face a serious risk of harm or have no safe place to live.
Many of those children arrive frightened, overwhelmed and alone. A Buddy Bag is often handed to a child on their first night in care.
Walter Mikac AM
Each Buddy Bag contains new essentials such as pyjamas, a toothbrush, underwear and a soft teddy bear. The items aim to give a child comfort, dignity and a sense of security at a deeply distressing time.
However, the foundation cannot keep up with demand. Half of the children who need a Buddy Bag are missing out.
Founding patron Walter Mikac AM said the club’s support continues to make a real difference for children in crisis.
“A Buddy Bag might seem like a small thing, but for a child who has lost everything, it can be the first sign that someone is looking out for them,” Mikac said.
Mikac also pointed to Richmond’s long backing for the cause. He said the Tiger Army has stood by vulnerable children year after year for more than a decade.
Partnership since 2012
Richmond has supported the Alannah & Madeline Foundation since 2012, making the link one of the most enduring partnerships in Australian sport.
CEO Shane Dunne said the club is proud of that relationship and of the foundation’s work to keep children safe.
Across that partnership, Richmond fans have donated $2.3 million. Dunne urged supporters to wear purple at the MCG on 2 August and help make the Round 21 game a strong fundraising day.
Meanwhile, foundation CEO Sarah Davies AM praised the generosity shown by Richmond and its supporters each year.
The fundraiser comes before a big home game for Richmond against West Coast. While the result on the field matters to the club, the day will also focus on helping children recover from trauma after entering emergency care.
