The NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round is back this weekend when the Parramatta Eels face the Sydney Roosters at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday 21 June.
This week's round-six matches will mark the fourth annual Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign. Last year $3.1 million was raised through the sale of beanies at NRL matches, Lowes and IGA stores and online.
The playing squads for both teams will run out wearing Mark Hughes Foundation beanies, while fans are encouraged to buy beanies at selected Lowes and IGA stores or online via the foundation’s website, where donations can also be made. https://markhughesfoundation.com.au/
While strict biosecurity measures in the COVID-19 world mean there won't be sales at games this year, the foundation made the call to "power on" and sell the 150,000-odd beanies ordered in December.
Hughes: It’s more than a beanie, it’s a symbol of hope
And there are still ways to show your support from home - fans are encouraged to post photos on social media wearing their beanies while watching the footy on TV.
All funds raised from the sale of the beanies will be donated to the foundation, supporting brain cancer research and ultimately better outcomes for patients.
Brain cancer kills more children than any other disease and kills more people under 40 in Australia than any other type of cancer - yet it receives very little government research funding.
The Beanies for Brain Cancer Round was an initiative established by the late Nine NRL executive producer Matt Callander in association with the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF).
The MHF will fund research projects in alignment with the National Brain Cancer Mission, with the aim of doubling survival rates and improving the quality of life for patients with brain cancer in the next 10 years.