NRL stars today brought the spirit of Christmas to 50 special children at Sea World on the Gold Coast.
From swimming with dolphins, to presents from Santa and autograph signings, today’s NRL Players’ Charity Christmas Party showed exactly why the annual event has become one of the highlights of the game’s community partnership.
Mat Rogers, Brad Meyers, Peter Wallace, Jharal Yow Yeh, Ty Williams and Ben Harris were among the host of stars from the Titans, Broncos and Cowboys who joined with kids from One Community charity partners Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia and National Breast Cancer Foundation, plus children from Camp Quality and Southport Special School, for a day of fun and Christmas cheer.
Santa also paid a special visit to help deliver some early Christmas presents, none better than the special dolphin swim that 14-year-old Carlton Sinn and six-year old Sharde Greedy, from the Royal Children’s Hospital, enjoyed with the Cowboys’ Ash Graham and Titans forward Anthony Laffranchi
“It was a great experience getting to swim with the dolphins, but that is what this day is all about, giving these kids a chance to have some fun,” Graham said today.
Titans favourite Mat Rogers has been a regular figure at the annual Charity Christmas parties and said it was an event he was always proud to be part of.
“It’s a special day for the kids and it means a lot to the guys here to be part of that and help bring a smile to their faces,” Rogers said.
“A number of the kids here today have been through a lot this year and events like this show the important role Rugby League plays in making a difference to people who deserve it most.”
The NRL Players’ Charity Christmas Parties will cap off a memorable year for Rugby League’s One Community in which NRL players spent some 22,000 hours performing community and charity work.
One Community will host a second Christmas event in Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday, December 9.
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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
