Sock it to Sarcoma! - Odd Sock RoundTuesday, September 8, 2020 - 10:42 AM

WA Football's involvement with Sock it to Sarcoma! aims to raise awareness of Sarcoma, a rare cancer, and raise funds for Sarcoma research in Western Australia. WA Football has a reason close to home for being involved, with Kalin Foley's diagnosis arising following injury in a local football game.

On the weekend of 11 - 13th of September, have some fun, pull on a pair of odd socks for your footy match and donate to a great cause, helping Sock it to Sarcoma. 

Kalin Foley was in year seven in 2017 when he was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue paediatric sarcoma called Rhabdomyosarcoma after a suspected injury came of football. Kalin had played with Wanneroo Junoir Football Club for many years and attended school with many Ocean Ridge Junior Football Club players. 

Kalin lost his battle at 15 years of age in September 2014 after an extensive treatment regime and one hell of a fight. Since then, the Northern Metro Junior Conference has raised over $50,000 for Sarcoma research. The clubs in the West Perth District, Claremont District and Subiaco District helped raise over $10,000 in 2019 by encouraging football teams to wear odd socks to raise funds and awareness of Sarcoma throughout the local community. 

In 2020, the event will expand beyond Metro North with all leagues, clubs and teams encouraged to participate. As part of WA Sarcoma Awareness Week and with the blessing of Kalin's parents, the West Perth Football District, Wanneroo Junior Football Club and Ocean Ridge Junior Football Club will run the annual Kalin Foley Cup, a match honouring Kalin Foley; this year at Heathridge ark on September 13th at 10:00am.

Sarcoma is a group of rare primary bone and soft tissue tumours, given a number of different names depending on the type of tissue from which they arise. The causes of sarcoma, including whether there are any underlying genetic links, are not yet established. This is the reason why more research into the molecular biology and etiology is so crucial. 

All clubs are encouraged to promote the round to teams and members, encouraging them to wear odd socks to raise awareness to Sarcoma. Players are encouraged to donate a gold coin to help raise funds. Team managers will collect the donated funds and drop to club canteen for the funds to then be delivered to the district WAFL club or the WA Football office in Tuart Hill.