News

Waratahs walk 20km to aid displaced

HOSTING a walkathon at Belmore Park last week to support the Doctors Without Borders charity in Gaza, Granville Waratah Soccer Football Club members have raised $5,000 but are still nearly $10,000 short of their goal and are appealing to the community to make a donation, no matter the size, until June 30.

Under 13s coach Paul Murphy has raised $710 through family and friends sponsoring his 20km walk and says he feels it’s the least he can do.
“If my leg starts to feel bad [from all the walking], I can still visit the doctor or hospital here as they haven’t been bombed,” he said.
“I can stop and get a drink or have a nice lunch on the way, something not possible in Gaza … and all the children I coach will be safe and warm in their beds tonight.”
He said the walkathon came about after Club President Noel Dona discovered that Club Secretary Zac Farah had cousins in Gaza he was trying to support.
“Noel thought it was a good opportunity to raise awareness about this tragedy including all the displaced families and problems with aid getting in,” Paul said.
“I don’t know anyone in Gaza but plenty of people in western Sydney do and so we’re calling on everyone in the community to help contribute to this cause.”
President Dona said Granville Waratahs were more than just a soccer club.
“We are a community, indeed a family with a conscience,” he said.
“We have club members who are directly affected by the tragedy unfolding in Gaza so it is personal and I am proud of the way our club has responded by holding a walkathon to raise invaluable funds and awareness; this is a case of how you can do more than just having kind thoughts.”
To donate, find Granville Waratah Soccer Football Club on Facebook.