CARLTON great Andrew McKay was a tough, hard-running defender who went hell for leather until the final siren. Even so, it took McKay four years to mentally recover after running his first marathon.

 

It took a great cause – one that pulled at his heartstrings – for the 1995 premiership player to subject himself to another 42km run.

 

In 2011 McKay ran the New York Marathon, and has participated in interstate bike rides since, all in the name of raising money for the Jodi Lee Foundation – the national bowel cancer awareness charity.

 

Jodi Lee was a close friend of McKay and his wife Sam. (Sam and Jodi grew up together.) A mother of two, Lee died from bowel cancer in January 2010 at the age of 41.

 

The Jodi Lee Foundation was created in her honour by her husband Nick (a mate of McKay's since their school days in Adelaide), who is the CEO.

 

Life changed forever for the Lees when they were living and working in Vietnam. (Jodi was a schoolteacher, while Nick was a director of Unilever Australasia.)

 

When McKay spoke to AFL.com.au this week, he told what he describes as "a terribly sad story".

 

He said Jodi's problems began with "a pain in the tummy".

 

Scans revealed a mass in her abdomen, and she was flown to Bangkok for surgery. Despite intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Jodi lost her battle two years later.

 

"I still remember ringing Nick after I heard. I didn't think he'd answer the phone but he did," McKay recalls. "It had a fair impact."

 

The two mates wanted to take their cause to a bigger stage, so they approached Carlton (where McKay has been the football manager for the past two seasons) and the AFL about the potential for the foundation to increase awareness at a match.

 

Permission was granted by the League, and the Western Bulldogs happily agreed to participate in the initiative when the two clubs meet in Saturday's twilight clash at Etihad Stadium.

 

On the night, the foundation will launch the #iknowsome1 campaign, which encourages fans to share their connection with bowel cancer.

 

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death, behind lung cancer. It's more prevalent in the 40-plus age bracket but can affect people of any age.

 

McKay says the key is to take a simple test, which people can do themselves at home.

 

"Early detection saves lives," he said. "If Jodi's cancer had been detected even six months earlier, she'd still be with us."

 

"The more people who are aware of it, the fewer people will die from it.

 

"More people die of bowel cancer than breast cancer, and breast cancer has enormous exposure. We need to increase exposure, education and funding for research, so we can save lives."

 

McKay says Jodi was always thinking of others.

 

"She gave everything while she was alive and now we're asking everyone else to think about, and give towards, bowel cancer. And at the same time they'll be looking after themselves," he said.

 

McKay hopes this is just a starting point, and that other AFL clubs will join the cause in seasons to come.