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Family tragedy behind Thaiday's Mark Hughes Foundation push

Family tragedy behind Thaiday's Mark Hughes Foundation push

NRL legend Sam Thaiday reveals his brother in law died from brain cancer last year, as he gears up to support the Mark Hughes Foundation's Beanies for Brain Cancer round.
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NSW star Jarome Luai details scary three-day hospital stay after chest wound resulted in staph infection
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NSW star Jarome Luai details scary three-day hospital stay after chest wound resulted in staph infection

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Millions raised for Mark Hughes Foundation in Beanie for Brain Cancer round
Millions raised for Mark Hughes Foundation in Beanie for Brain Cancer round

The Advertiser

time2 days ago

  • The Advertiser

Millions raised for Mark Hughes Foundation in Beanie for Brain Cancer round

THE RUGBY league community banded together to raise a whopping $3.5 million in the Beanies for Brain Cancer round of the NRL. The initiative led by the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) saw a sea of purple and grey beanies on Friday, June 27, at McDonald Jones Stadium when the Knights took on the Raiders, and across all NRL matches for the weekend. This year's funds surpassed the $3.1 million raised in 2024, with over 130,000 beanies sold and Sportsbet donating $1000 for each of the 60 tries scored during Round 17. MHF founder Mark Highes said it never ceased to amaze him how much this round meant to the rugby league community. "The reality of living with brain cancer and the devastating effects that it has on so many Australians is something that would be easy to find overcoming, but this is never the case for the rugby league community," he said. "Every beanie is a symbol of hope, and we now have 3.5 million more reasons to tackle this insidious disease harder than before." NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said he was proud of how the community had stepped up in the fight against brain cancer. "This is a time when fans put aside their rivalries and come together in a wonderful show of support for a very worthy cause," he said. "Congratulations to the Mark Hughes Foundation for the work they have done in leading fundraising and research into fighting brain cancer." Also contributing to the fundraising was a 70-strong Big Three Trek contingent that tackled the 150km walk from Rugby League Central in Sydney to Newcastle to raise over $335,000 across three days. Novocastrian Scott Hingston successfully ran from AAMI Park in Melbourne to Newcastle, completing an epic 1100km journey, running 24 marathons in 12 days to raise awareness and $116,000 for brain cancer research. THE RUGBY league community banded together to raise a whopping $3.5 million in the Beanies for Brain Cancer round of the NRL. The initiative led by the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) saw a sea of purple and grey beanies on Friday, June 27, at McDonald Jones Stadium when the Knights took on the Raiders, and across all NRL matches for the weekend. This year's funds surpassed the $3.1 million raised in 2024, with over 130,000 beanies sold and Sportsbet donating $1000 for each of the 60 tries scored during Round 17. MHF founder Mark Highes said it never ceased to amaze him how much this round meant to the rugby league community. "The reality of living with brain cancer and the devastating effects that it has on so many Australians is something that would be easy to find overcoming, but this is never the case for the rugby league community," he said. "Every beanie is a symbol of hope, and we now have 3.5 million more reasons to tackle this insidious disease harder than before." NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said he was proud of how the community had stepped up in the fight against brain cancer. "This is a time when fans put aside their rivalries and come together in a wonderful show of support for a very worthy cause," he said. "Congratulations to the Mark Hughes Foundation for the work they have done in leading fundraising and research into fighting brain cancer." Also contributing to the fundraising was a 70-strong Big Three Trek contingent that tackled the 150km walk from Rugby League Central in Sydney to Newcastle to raise over $335,000 across three days. Novocastrian Scott Hingston successfully ran from AAMI Park in Melbourne to Newcastle, completing an epic 1100km journey, running 24 marathons in 12 days to raise awareness and $116,000 for brain cancer research. THE RUGBY league community banded together to raise a whopping $3.5 million in the Beanies for Brain Cancer round of the NRL. The initiative led by the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) saw a sea of purple and grey beanies on Friday, June 27, at McDonald Jones Stadium when the Knights took on the Raiders, and across all NRL matches for the weekend. This year's funds surpassed the $3.1 million raised in 2024, with over 130,000 beanies sold and Sportsbet donating $1000 for each of the 60 tries scored during Round 17. MHF founder Mark Highes said it never ceased to amaze him how much this round meant to the rugby league community. "The reality of living with brain cancer and the devastating effects that it has on so many Australians is something that would be easy to find overcoming, but this is never the case for the rugby league community," he said. "Every beanie is a symbol of hope, and we now have 3.5 million more reasons to tackle this insidious disease harder than before." NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said he was proud of how the community had stepped up in the fight against brain cancer. "This is a time when fans put aside their rivalries and come together in a wonderful show of support for a very worthy cause," he said. "Congratulations to the Mark Hughes Foundation for the work they have done in leading fundraising and research into fighting brain cancer." Also contributing to the fundraising was a 70-strong Big Three Trek contingent that tackled the 150km walk from Rugby League Central in Sydney to Newcastle to raise over $335,000 across three days. Novocastrian Scott Hingston successfully ran from AAMI Park in Melbourne to Newcastle, completing an epic 1100km journey, running 24 marathons in 12 days to raise awareness and $116,000 for brain cancer research. THE RUGBY league community banded together to raise a whopping $3.5 million in the Beanies for Brain Cancer round of the NRL. The initiative led by the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) saw a sea of purple and grey beanies on Friday, June 27, at McDonald Jones Stadium when the Knights took on the Raiders, and across all NRL matches for the weekend. This year's funds surpassed the $3.1 million raised in 2024, with over 130,000 beanies sold and Sportsbet donating $1000 for each of the 60 tries scored during Round 17. MHF founder Mark Highes said it never ceased to amaze him how much this round meant to the rugby league community. "The reality of living with brain cancer and the devastating effects that it has on so many Australians is something that would be easy to find overcoming, but this is never the case for the rugby league community," he said. "Every beanie is a symbol of hope, and we now have 3.5 million more reasons to tackle this insidious disease harder than before." NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said he was proud of how the community had stepped up in the fight against brain cancer. "This is a time when fans put aside their rivalries and come together in a wonderful show of support for a very worthy cause," he said. "Congratulations to the Mark Hughes Foundation for the work they have done in leading fundraising and research into fighting brain cancer." Also contributing to the fundraising was a 70-strong Big Three Trek contingent that tackled the 150km walk from Rugby League Central in Sydney to Newcastle to raise over $335,000 across three days. Novocastrian Scott Hingston successfully ran from AAMI Park in Melbourne to Newcastle, completing an epic 1100km journey, running 24 marathons in 12 days to raise awareness and $116,000 for brain cancer research.

Mark Hughes: I'm constantly reminded how tough this disease is
Mark Hughes: I'm constantly reminded how tough this disease is

ABC News

time4 days ago

  • ABC News

Mark Hughes: I'm constantly reminded how tough this disease is

The Beanies for Brain Cancer Round has become part of the NRL furniture with players, fans and commentators donning the beanies to raise money each year. The man behind it - former Knight Mark Hughes (32.37) - chatted to Andrew Moore and the team about how it continues to exceed his expectations. And while he's in good health he explained that his work with the Charity never lets him forget how hard it is to deal with the disease. Plus Michael Carayannis is along with all the latest Rugby League news - and speculation - in MC's Hammertime (44:33).

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