It's Jane McGrath Day at the Sydney Cricket Ground today, and everything will have a decidedly pink hue to it. For those who don't know, Jane McGrath was married to Australian cricketing legend Glenn McGrath, and died in 2008 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Since Jane's death, the McGrath Foundation has hijacked the traditional New Year test at the SCG (in the nicest possible way), using it both as a memorial to Jane McGrath, and an opportunity to promote the aims of the McGrath Foundation. When Day Three of the final Ashes test begins in a few minutes, the SCG will be a sea of pink.
The McGrath Foundation has a specific aim; to fund the provision of breast care nurses throughout Australia to support women suffering from breast cancer. When the Foundation was established Jane McGrath said this:
It was in 2003 when I was re-diagnosed with breast cancer that I realised the importance of having a breast care nurse, something I was fortunate enough to have access to for the first time. Someone who could answer the questions only a nurse could answer whilst also being the support I needed to unload my frustrations and emotions.Having access to a breast care nurse allowed me to be Jane McGrath, the friend, the mother and the wife – not just Jane McGrath, the breast cancer patient.
The McGrath Foundation has done a fantatstic job, and there are now 55 nurses scattered around Australia. Whilst we wouldn't be seen dead in pink (even if it IS the new black!), we applaud the aims and the achievements of the McGrath Foundation, and wish them well for the big day today.
6 comments:
Kudos to all involved...I'm full of admiration for those who can turn a personal tragedy into something positive for the greater good, and what a wonderful legacy for the deceased.
Well said Suz. Glenn McGrath could be a surly bugger on the field and was prone to tantrums, but to lose his wife in that manner was awful. Rather than wallow in his grief, he has been an agent for good, and as you say, should be admired for doing that. Jane McGrath's life and death has not been in vain.
This is all bullshit.
21 years ago I was dying from cancer.
The popular groups- who came through the hospital at the time, couldn't care less, because I wasn't one of them.
Fuck the lot of them, I survived anyway!
It's sixty-one nurses currently.
I heard that during the commentary today Adolf. But knowing that the Aussie commentators are prone to hyperbole, I didn't update ...
Stetching the topic slightly on two counts:
Firstly it seems it has been the English batsmen Cook and Bells day at the SCG.
Secondly I see Warney has been `given the flick' by Channel 9 nearly as quickly as Liz Hurley did.
Post a Comment