Collingwood and Carlton will once again join forces to pay tribute to former Carlton President Richard Pratt.
Read the 'Ultimate Preview' for Saturday's game.
In 2009 it was announced that the teams would compete for the Richard Pratt Cup each year when Carlton is the home team.
Collingwood President Eddie McGuire said it is an important tribute to a great man.
“The Collingwood Football Club is delighted to support the Richard Pratt Cup,” said McGuire.
“Collingwood has developed a close partnership with the Pratt Foundation over many years and continues to work closely with Richard’s daughter Heloise Waislitz on a range of community programs.
“The establishment of the Richard Pratt Cup, in conjunction with the Carlton Football Club, will not only pay tribute to a great man of football and the community, it will also present an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the issues relating to prostate cancer,” McGuire added.
In recent times Heloise Waislitz and the Pratt Foundation have offered extraordinary support to Collingwood as the club launched the Collingwood Football Club Foundation to oversee the development of the community centre at Victoria Park and many other philanthropic initiatives.
Richard Pratt passed away in April 2009 following a long battle with prostate cancer. Richard’s involvement with the Carlton Football Club spanned nearly 60 years as a player, sponsor, director, president and patron.
Carlton President Stephen Kernahan praised Pratt.
“We are delighted that Collingwood has joined with us to pay tribute to Richard Pratt to ensure his legacy continues and to raise awareness of prostate cancer and our continuing fight against cancer,” Kernahan said.
The Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Graeme Johnson said the establishment of the Richard Pratt Cup was an important initiative that will boost the community awareness of prostate cancer and he congratulated both clubs on their role.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer effecting males diagnosed in Australia. Each year almost 3000 men die of prostate cancer and we need to continue to raise the awareness to reduce the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men and their loved ones,” Graeme said.
Ted Whitten, CEO of the EJ Whitten Foundation, was delighted the teams had joined forces to support prostate cancer awareness and confirmed the Foundation would provide additional support for the Richard Pratt Cup.
Carlton and Collingwood joined forces in 1993 in the fight against cancer through the annual Peter Mac Cup and this continues. Each year the Carlton home game will be played for the Richard Pratt Cup and the Collingwood home game will be played for the Peter Mac Cup.
The Richard Pratt Cup will be presented to the winning team’s captain in the rooms following Saturday afternoon’s game.
Collingwood is also running an auction to support the Richard Pratt Fellowships in Prostate Cancer. The Fellowships identify improved treatment for sufferers of prostate cancer.
Each year the Richard Pratt Fellowships will commit $100,000 to individual applicants who are conducting translational research in this specific form of cancer.
Click here to bid on items including:
Be part of the 2012 team photo
Be a mascot for a game in 2012
2011 Collingwood signed guernsey
Ultimate match day experience in round 24 (v Geelong)
Richard Pratt Cup - previous results
2009 - Round 17: Collingwood 14.10 (94) def. Carlton 4.16 (40)
2010 - Round 6: Collingwood 24.11 (155) def. Carlton 17.6 (108)
Prostate Cancer Facts:
• Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer effecting males diagnosed in Australia
• Each year in Australia, almost 3000 men die of prostate cancer
• An estimated 18,700 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year
• It is recommended that men aged 50 and over (or 40 and over if they have a family history) should speak with their doctor annually about prostate cancer and, if necessary, be tested.
For further information on prostate cancer:
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
Phone: 1800 22 00 99 or visit www.prostate.org.au
EJ Whitten Foundation
Phone: 1300WHITTEN or visit www.ejwhittenfoundation.com.au
