Supporting Parkinson's Research

 Friday 11th April - World Parkinson's Day

8 Pelicans left the nest bright and early to sally forth up the M80 Ring Road to participate in a tournament at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre.  Arranged by WalkingFootball 4 Health Victoria, the tournament's purpose was to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease, and half our entry fees were donated to the Shake It Up Foundation, a not for profit organisation established in 2011 to promote and fund research into Parkinson's disease in Australia.  Visiting dignitaries including the mayor of Hume City Council, and the state Member of Parliament kicked off proceedings with a series of speeches.

We faced an arduous draw, with back to back matches against a strong Sunbury team, followed immediately by a determined team all the way from Beechworth.  They were so impressed with Stephen's goal keeping against them that they drafted him to be goalie for their next match too.

 

Lunch passed all too quickly and it was on again, first up against the Walkeroos, followed straight away by a match against Burwood.  What a great (if exhausting) day, and in aid of a very good cause too!  Icing on the cake was meeting the one and only Paul Wade aka "Maradona's tagger".

 

You can see interviews with the dignitaries, and footage of our matches in the background, courtesy of Channel 31 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IU1agn8eAY