Maddie’s Match 2020

Five years of making a difference

“The human spirit has truly prevailed in 2020. The announcement to support Maddie’s Vision and hold our 5th Maddie’s Match is a message of united strength. Strength of our partnership with St Kilda Football Club and the wider AFL community as well as to confirm that, regardless of the external challenges we’re facing, we are all behind people with Bone Marrow Failure. We remain steadfast in our desire to honour Maddie’s legacy, saving lives”. 

Nick Riewoldt,
Chairman of Maddie’s Vision board.

The fifth instalment of the Annual Maddie’s Match has successfully raised $1,140,000 that will immediately go towards medical research. The Federal Government announced a contribution of $1million to support the first clinical trial for high risk Bone Marrow Failure patients. The balance of the funds raised will support a National Biobank facility. Both of these projects have previously been identified as part of our strategic National program of critical projects, towards finding a cure.

Read more on Saints.com.au

Our CEO Nicky Long said “Maddie’s Match has underpinned our impact towards finding a cure for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes. The funds raised at the first match on July 19th, 2015 has led to us now funding 24 medical research projects, within a National Centre of Research Excellence in Bone Marrow Biology. This 5 year match celebration is one of thanks and gratitude to all the families for their support and what they continue to do – to help us to continue fight like Maddie and improve the dismal 50% survival rate for all who face this cruel diagnosis”.

Since the first Maddie’s Match in July 2015, Maddie’s Match and the partnership with St Kilda Football Club has raised over $3.5 million. These funds have established the only National Bone Marrow Failure registry, National Centre of Excellence in Bone Marrow Biology, opened up increased access to genetic testing, funded two clinical trials and the first National Biobank facility. All of these important medical research undertakings are already having impact and are steps towards greater understanding and improving the lives of young people diagnosed. These projects, together with funding from the Victorian State Government in 2018, are part of our commitment to 24 new medical research projects making a difference.

This year has been a challenging year and yet, our community (you) have found space in your hearts to engage and get behind us. We can’t show our appreciation in person but we hope you can sense that our gratitude is sincerely and deeply felt. Thank you for purchasing merchandise – scarf, keyring, T-shirt and Oscar. Also, to those who bid on the Saints signed jumpers – you helped raise almost $5,000. Big thanks too for donating online and to the Saints family sponsors – Dare Iced Coffee, RSEA Safety, Pepper Money and McDonalds for their $23,000 contribution. It is all of these contributions that have created our ability to take action and make a difference to life saving interventions. You can still buy merchandise here. We sure missed our army of generous volunteers this year.

Five years of Maddie’s Match is bitter sweet for the Riewoldt Family. Fiona Riewoldt said “ What our darling Maddie has ignited is a National movement that not even COVID-19 can halt”. Indeed, despite the much respected restrictions, the Riewoldt’s joined together to watch the game with CEO, Matt Finnis and a few close family and friends at the Swan Hotel in Richmond. See highlights video here:

Thank you for continuing to help us #FightLikeMaddie. Your support is THE difference and on behalf of the children and families affected, we say THANKYOU.