Penrith confirmed on Monday that their Round 20 clash against the Canberra Raiders will double as an occasion where the Panthers hope to raise $100,000 for the Ronald McDonald Nepean Family Room at Nepean Hospital.
Turning down the opportunity to take the fixture to Christchurch, New Zealand, the Panthers hope to utilise the extra game at Pepper Stadium to both support the club and the Family Room at Nepean Hospital.
Panthers captain Peter Wallace, whose late mother Dianne worked at Nepean Hospital for over 25 years, was honoured to play his part in helping raise much-needed funds.
"It's a very good cause. Obviously it's a very stressful time for parents and families who are going through a tough time with their sick kids so anything we can do to sort of make them more comfortable and make the situation a little bit easier is obviously a great cause," Wallace told NRL.com.
"I have to credit the club for getting involved in it. It's a great initiative and being a local boy myself it's great to be helping the hospital that provides so much for all these families."
Meagan Preston, Nepean Family Room Coordinator, explained the main functions the room provides and was thankful for the Panthers support.
"We're all very appreciative of the support the Penrith Panthers are giving to the Ronald McDonald Nepean Family Room. We are very grateful for this additional funding that will help the room and help the families that are here," Preston said.
"Basically it's a small room which takes in families and provides them an opportunity to recharge and regather their thoughts before and after spending time at the bedside of their children.
"It's a very, very specialised unit and the children are either born premature or seriously ill and the families are under quite a lot of stress so anything we can do here will help these families greatly."
Justin Pascoe, Panthers' Head of Rugby League, added: "The Nepean family room is a special place and the Panthers are very proud for the opportunity to make a contribution to the remarkable work which happens there."
The Panthers will contribute $10 from every adult ticket purchase and $5 from every junior ticket purchase in their attempt to reach the $100,000 fundraising target.
The club will also donate $10 from every Panthers jersey sold at Pepper Stadium on the night, with Penrith set to take the field against the Raiders wearing the new-release heritage jersey.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday July 16.
