Aquis Gold Coast Titans’ international back-rower Greg Bird will deliver a special gesture – and also much needed funds to a young man in need – to celebrate this weekend’s NRL Indigenous Round.
Bird, a four-time Indigenous All Stars representative, will this Sunday in Melbourne wear boots decorated by renowned Gold Coast Indigenous artists Christine Slabb.
He will then autograph the boots use them to raise money for 24-year-old Jeremias Blackman, a young Indigenous man who has been wheelchair bound since a motor accident in 2010.
Jeremias was university student and aspiring young footballer when he suffered spinal injuries in the accident, caused when he swerved to miss a kangaroo.
He no longer gets government funding and insurance does not cover the treatment he is undergoing on the Gold Coast which he hopes will overcome chronic pain and see him leave his wheelchair permanently.
“I wanted to do something to celebrate the Indigenous Round and to raise money for a good cause, and have been aware of Jeremias’ plight for quite a while,” Bird said.
“So I thought of doing something special with my boots. Christine is a brilliant artist and had no hesitation helping me out and this is my way of assisting Jeremias and bringing to light his situation and others like him who struggle without the support many others get.
“And if we can get a win in Melbourne too, it would be a very special week.”
To be in the running to win the boots, all you have to do is donate $20 or more to Jeremias Blackman’s fund-raising campaign in the next week. All those who donate will go into the draw to win the special pair of boots.
For more information visit the Gold Coast Titans website