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Benji finds benevolence in a dad's dying wishes
Adrian Proszenko
January 30, 2011
THE dying wish of Benji Marshall's foster father, Mick Doherty, was that he help others as well as himself.
To that end, the Wests Tigers superstar began the Benji Marshall Foundation to assist those suffering from childhood cancers. The foundation has been up and running for the best part of a year, but perhaps the past week best highlights Marshall's desire to give something back.
Just days after leading the Tigers' clean-up effort in the flood-ravaged Queensland township of Goodna, Marshall attended to a tragedy closer to his native home.
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The Kiwi captain offered up the jersey he wore as part of the victorious 2008 World Cup side to KEA (Kiwi Expats Association) to raise funds for the families of the 29 who perished in last November's Pike River mining disaster. The jersey auction, run by the Trading Post, raised $NZ6700 ($5200) and Marshall personally presented the keepsake to top-bidder Connell Burke at Concord Oval this week.
''It's pretty sad what happened in New Zealand with the mining tragedy and I was more than happy to help out and donate my Four Nations jumper,'' Marshall said.
''It's just a small way to lend a hand to the families that have lost husbands and fathers and are struggling financially.
''It's a jersey that means a lot to me, but I'm more than happy to help out.''
And then there's the Footy Rocks black tie dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 4, a fundraising partnership between Marshall's Foundation and the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia.
Just another way to honour a promise to the man he called Dad.
Adrian Proszenko
January 30, 2011
THE dying wish of Benji Marshall's foster father, Mick Doherty, was that he help others as well as himself.
To that end, the Wests Tigers superstar began the Benji Marshall Foundation to assist those suffering from childhood cancers. The foundation has been up and running for the best part of a year, but perhaps the past week best highlights Marshall's desire to give something back.
Just days after leading the Tigers' clean-up effort in the flood-ravaged Queensland township of Goodna, Marshall attended to a tragedy closer to his native home.
Advertisement: Story continues below
The Kiwi captain offered up the jersey he wore as part of the victorious 2008 World Cup side to KEA (Kiwi Expats Association) to raise funds for the families of the 29 who perished in last November's Pike River mining disaster. The jersey auction, run by the Trading Post, raised $NZ6700 ($5200) and Marshall personally presented the keepsake to top-bidder Connell Burke at Concord Oval this week.
''It's pretty sad what happened in New Zealand with the mining tragedy and I was more than happy to help out and donate my Four Nations jumper,'' Marshall said.
''It's just a small way to lend a hand to the families that have lost husbands and fathers and are struggling financially.
''It's a jersey that means a lot to me, but I'm more than happy to help out.''
And then there's the Footy Rocks black tie dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 4, a fundraising partnership between Marshall's Foundation and the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia.
Just another way to honour a promise to the man he called Dad.
