On the pitch, they’re rivals: clubs with respective aspirations looking to take each other down in Round 14 of the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign.
But off the pitch, teams around the league are united by a shared ambition: to support Rebekah Stott in her fight to beat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory have joined Melbourne City in announcing a series of initiatives in a combined effort to help Stott raise funds and awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation, ahead of her participation in the World’s Greatest Shave on Monday, March 29.
Stott was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in February. The diagnosis brought City’s equal-leading Westfield W-League appearance maker home from abroad, putting a halt to her stint at FA Women’s Super League side Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of four months of chemotherapy, which began this week.
READ: How YOU can help Rebekah Stott beat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
BEAT IT by Stotty: Read more about Stott’s eight-month journey to reach her diagnosis
Remaining positive post diagnosis has been so important to me. Tomorrow I commence my first day of treatment ready to face the challenges ahead with the same mindset.
Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming support so far ❤️ https://t.co/D8AJKtsejE pic.twitter.com/w7ivdiaqPQ
— Rebekah Stott (@stotty_13) March 22, 2021
As Stott begins her mission to ‘BEAT IT’, the 27-year-old has called on the public to help her in her fight and so far, with the help of the football community, that challenge is being met.
Stott has raised more than $17,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation to date – $2,000 more than the target amount set on her fundraising page ahead of Monday, March 29, when she will participate in the World’s Greatest Shave.
And that amount is only going to grow in the coming days, with a number of clubs jumping on board to send that figure through the roof as the final round of the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign kicks off on Thursday night.
Melbourne Victory host Perth Glory at Epping Stadium on Sunday, March 28. The club will be providing collection tins at key locations around the ground, and will donate a share of the gate takings to Stott’s cause.
Stott’s former club Melbourne City, meanwhile, have thrown their support behind one of their inaugural Westfield W-League players.
City’s A-League squad donated a combined $1,300 on Wednesday, March 24, while the club itself is donating $2,500 before its Thursday-night Westfield W-League clash with Perth Glory.
Brisbane Roar are also in action on Sunday afternoon, with a home contest against Newcastle Jets. Australian internationals and Brisbane stars Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop have offered signed Westfield Matildas jersey’s up for auction this weekend, with all proceeds going towards Stott’s fundraising drive.
Canberra United will also have collection baskets available at their Friday night match against Sydney FC at Viking Park for fans who want to help contribute as well.
The Westfield W-League will be promoting the current initiatives and any which follow throughout Round 14, so you can stay up to date with all the ways to get involved ahead of Stott’s participation in the World’s Greatest Shave on March 29.
Every donation, big or small, will make a difference. Donate today to aid Stotty in her quest to beat it, and help her find strength in unity with support from the entire football community.
