More than 1500km from mainland Australia, a group of junior rugby league players wanted to show Jai Arrow he wasn’t fighting alone.
What started with kids performing Arrow’s iconic ‘Try for Jai’ celebration soon grew into a community-wide movement, with Norfolk Island raising more than $6500 for Jai Arrow’s Family of League Fundraiser and FightMND.
“It just snowballed," said Norfolk Island Rugby League club secretary Madeleine Ponini.
"It started as a Facebook post saying Friday night footy was going to be a fundraiser for Jai.
"Then businesses started contacting us left, right and centre."
The fundraiser gained momentum when local business owner Sally Christian pledged $500 to the cause and promised that if the community matched it, her husband, local legend Trent Christian, would take part in an ice bucket challenge.
“Every time we raised another $500, the community found another local who would be funny to add to the challenge – then we decided to chuck them all in a horse trough and cover them with ice,” said Ponini.
Having lost her father to MND in 2007 after a lengthy battle with the disease, Christian said Arrow’s journey struck a personal chord.
For her, the campaign was about more than fundraising. It was an opportunity to highlight a disease that had touched her family first-hand.
“Anything that shines a light on MND is one step forward. If you're bringing awareness to a disease, you’re keeping the people affected at the forefront of people's minds," she said.
“Dad fought for nine years with MND. He was one of those stubborn fighters, and he was never going to give up."
Coming to the Island a month after her father's passing, Christian credits the close-knit community for helping her through one of the most difficult periods of her life.
"We had Broncos fans in Souths jerseys, Bulldogs supporters in Broncos colours and New South Welshmen wearing Maroons. It was all just good fun," she said.
As donations grew, it was clear that the fundraiser had resonated beyond the rugby league community, with many islanders sharing their own connections to MND.
"It was actually quite surprising how many people had been affected by MND in the community," Ponini said.
"It was beautiful to see how much it actually meant to people."
With a population of just 2000 people, O’Connor said rugby league remains one the community’s strongest connections.
“Everybody's got their differences, but in a time of need on Norfolk Island everybody always comes together. It takes a village," he said.
With around 120 registered junior players and a school of only 300 students, rugby league occupies a significant place in Norfolk.
"Rugby league on Norfolk Island has always been popular. You played for whoever your grandfather played for," said O’Connor.
For the community, the most rewarding moment came when the message reached Arrow.
“There's always one degree of separation on Norfolk - someone always knows someone," said Ponini.
After being contacted by a former committee member whose son grew up with him, Arrow passed along his sincere appreciation to the community.
The Norfolk Island Rugby League club plans to continue fundraising, hoping to hold a live auction of signed NRL jerseys and open it to bidders from across the country.
For O’Connor, the success of the fundraiser has highlighted rugby league’s unique ability to bring communities together.
“I think someone joked about getting flaming arrows and the next minute they were on the field, but that’s just Norfolk,” he said.
“Jai knows he has our support from all the way out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean."
