Sock it to Sarcoma Brings Communities TogetherThursday, June 22, 2023 - 10:40 AM

Local football clubs are encouraged to join and support WA Sarcoma Awareness Week.

Players and umpires from Auskick, Junior, Senior Clubs and the WAFL are also urged to donate a gold coin or an amount of their choice on either Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th, or Sunday 25th of June.

Players are encouraged to wear one of their club/team socks, accompanied by an odd sock on the other foot – joining the Sock it to Sarcoma theme.

Sock it to Sarcoma! aims to raise funds and awareness of Sarcoma, a rare cancer.

WA football’s involvement with Sock it to Sarcoma! started in a bid to support young footballer Kalin Foley.

Kalin was in year seven in 2012 when he was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue paediatric sarcoma called Rhabdomyosarcoma after a suspected injury playing football.

Kalin had represented Wanneroo Junior Football Club for many years and attended Prendiville Catholic College with 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.

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.

The West Perth District, Claremont District and Subiaco District clubs helped raise over $14,000 in 2022 by encouraging local football teams to wear odd socks to raise funds and awareness of Sarcoma throughout the local football community.

More than $95,000 has been raised over the last eight years.

As part of WA Sarcoma Awareness Month and with the blessing of Kalin’s parents Paul and Brigitte, the Metro North Competition, Wanneroo Junior Football Club and Ocean Ridge Junior Football Club will again run the annual Kalin Foley Cup, a match honouring Kalin Foley, this year at Wanneroo Showgrounds on 25 June at 1:00pm.

A full day of games between Ocean Ridge JFC and Wanneroo JFC will be played at Heathridge Park in memory of Kalin Foley.

The event will include raffles and community activities for the whole family.

Cash donations will go directly to Sock it to Sarcoma! or goods to auction/raffle on the day at the 2023 Kalin Foley Cup at Wanneroo are greatly appreciated.

Location: Wanneroo Showgrounds

When: Sunday 25th June

Kalin Foley Cup: 1:00pm

Website: www.sockittosarcoma.org.au

Facebook: Facebook.com/SockItToSarcoma

Twitter: @sockittosarcoma