In 2008 and early 2009, my Bulldogs were somewhat of a dirty name. Off-field indiscretions, board-room squabbles and player defections were order of the day. Accordingly team morale and performance went south and we ended 2008 with the wooden spoon.
By the time the final whistle for 2008 had blown, we were already ringing in the changes. A new coach, a new CEO, an with an outgoing major sponsor we required another. But nobody was knocking.
The new CEO is Todd Greenberg. A highly respected forward thinker and new generation of corporate leader. He identified that the 'brand' has been damaged, and set about fixing the leaky Bulldogs ship. He astutely made the decision to approach a charity in regards to sponsoring the Bulldogs at a generous cut-price rate.
I dont know if they were the first to be approached, but "Camp Quality" was sounded out. Meetings were arranged. Proposals drafted. The best intentions went with it all - The Bulldogs were politely turned away with a "Thanks, but NO thanks !"
We could NOT even "give" our sponsorship space away !!!
A resounding slap in the face for everything the Bulldogs brand had grown to encompass.
Now Todd, if nothing else, is a tenacious force. History shows "Camp Quality" did infact join forces with the Bulldogs after a meeting or two more, and appeared as major sponsors on our 2009 jersey until such times as we secured a legitimate paying sponsor.
CQ were kind enough to allow the use of their high-integrity name at a time when associating with the Bulldogs brand may have been detrimental to their own. As a fan, I've never forgotten that. It is the symbolic climbing out of the quicksand for our club. I even bought a jersey with the CQ banner on it. Fittingly, it also became a good luck charm as we began 2009 with a winning streak, and a wildly successful season ended one game from the Grand Final.
As a happy consequence, the club now throws it's full support behind Camp Quality in a gesture of ongoing good will. Players attend clinics and companion days with members of CQ. The club, along with other fund-raising initiatives, throws the gates open to all Camp Quality companions to enjoy a day at the footy.
Last weekend was Camp Quality round - A week long promotion between CQ and Bulldogs to raise awareness and share the love. The opportunity to volunteer as a CQ fundraiser and ambassador came about, and I jumped on it. It's the first time I've ever officially volunteered for something charitable.
And so began what I think might just be an annual event for me ...
The day began meeting Bronwyn and her CQ entourage for a briefing and welcome. At least 6 online partners in crime from The Bulldogs Army were present, and a handful more. We were the gold-coin bucket-crew assigned to wander ANZ stadium and spread some CQ gospel. They didn't know it, but thy had some of the Army's biggest personalities throwing their weight behind the exercise, and this alone had me excited for a successful day.
Never let it be said that Bulldogs fans (and Roosters fans too) are not generous - By days end my bucket weighed more than one of my kids !
Maybe it had a little to do with the decision to steal two cheerleaders (Hello Karsha and Marissa) and target some folks in the Members area. It's sure hard to say No to a pretty lady, let alone
I have absolutely NO idea what the grand total at the end of the day was, but considering my bucket alone (one of about eight) contained a multitude of notes including 20's and 50's ... I'd safely assume it was somewhere in the order of "shitloads" !!!
Happy (and sore) after my initial collecting efforts, I watched the game with my fellow Army folk in the first half, but felt the pull towards the Companions present, so I decided to spend the 2nd half with them in a separate bay away from where I normally enjoy a game.
After a minute or so making myself at home, I struck up a chat with another active fundraiser for CQ responsible for their "car rides" who was present with his children for the day. He was a Wests Tigers fan normally, but for today he was happy to have a day out, giving his fellow fundraising mates (and Roosters fans) a hard time.
He informed me that somewhere in the order of 60-100 companions were present. The immediate family members, siblings, parents and extended family of "kids" suffering with cancer. Days like the footy provide families an important time-out from the everyday grind of doctors appointments, tests, treatments, chemo, tears, frustration, traffic and parking fees. A chance for the extended family to bond. To forget about the worldly troubles for a while. If only an hour or two.
We chatted. Spoke about footy. The two boys in his care blissfully unaware of the score, and more pre-occupied with the Bulldogs mascot. A million miles away from a regular day I imagine.
I wish I could have told everyone who gave me even "one coin", just what their money does, because the living proof of it was at the stadium for anyone to see.
As the Bulldogs mascot made his way to the fences near the bay of 'Companions', the two boys were gesturing they wanted to go give him a high-five, and Dad gestured back 'away you go'. We continued our chat about life in general, and minutes later the heavens opened and down came the rain.
As Dad stood up to figured out where the boys were, they (like 10,000 others at the stadium) were scurrying back from the fence, out of the elements and undercover. About 20 rows from the safety of dryness, both boys (aged under 10) paused ... and began simulating having a shower in the rain, complete with scrubbed underarms, and washed hair !
At first Dad pleaded "dont stand in the rain", but as the smiles from his Roosters mates, me and others permeated the near vicinity Dad knew the cause was lost ... he shrugged as if to say "yep, those are MY goofballs", and it was THEN, the pennies dropped.
I'm watching the magic of the whole initiative unfold before my eyes.
As a parent with ill-kids myself, I can certainly empathise with the uncertainty. The constant flux of good progress mixed with setbacks. The never ending travel and logistical juggling. All of these are mild frustrations in the grand scheme of things, but nonetheless, they still SUCK !
With the boys showering in the rain for the benefit of everyones amusement, the world seemed complete.
Knowing that my involvement this year ensures the ongoing success of the union between my Bulldogs and Camp Quality, is immensely satisfying. Knowing that the generosity of Bulldogs fans solidifies the decision of CQ to join forces with us, makes me a proud Bulldogs man.
Knowing that more suffering kids can come watch my footy team, high-five the mascot and shower in the rain for fun, all because I took the time to give away my day at the footy, is one of the best deposits in the spirit account I've ever made !
Sign me up for next time already.
By the time the final whistle for 2008 had blown, we were already ringing in the changes. A new coach, a new CEO, an with an outgoing major sponsor we required another. But nobody was knocking.
The new CEO is Todd Greenberg. A highly respected forward thinker and new generation of corporate leader. He identified that the 'brand' has been damaged, and set about fixing the leaky Bulldogs ship. He astutely made the decision to approach a charity in regards to sponsoring the Bulldogs at a generous cut-price rate.
I dont know if they were the first to be approached, but "Camp Quality" was sounded out. Meetings were arranged. Proposals drafted. The best intentions went with it all - The Bulldogs were politely turned away with a "Thanks, but NO thanks !"
We could NOT even "give" our sponsorship space away !!!
A resounding slap in the face for everything the Bulldogs brand had grown to encompass.
Now Todd, if nothing else, is a tenacious force. History shows "Camp Quality" did infact join forces with the Bulldogs after a meeting or two more, and appeared as major sponsors on our 2009 jersey until such times as we secured a legitimate paying sponsor.
CQ were kind enough to allow the use of their high-integrity name at a time when associating with the Bulldogs brand may have been detrimental to their own. As a fan, I've never forgotten that. It is the symbolic climbing out of the quicksand for our club. I even bought a jersey with the CQ banner on it. Fittingly, it also became a good luck charm as we began 2009 with a winning streak, and a wildly successful season ended one game from the Grand Final.
As a happy consequence, the club now throws it's full support behind Camp Quality in a gesture of ongoing good will. Players attend clinics and companion days with members of CQ. The club, along with other fund-raising initiatives, throws the gates open to all Camp Quality companions to enjoy a day at the footy.
Last weekend was Camp Quality round - A week long promotion between CQ and Bulldogs to raise awareness and share the love. The opportunity to volunteer as a CQ fundraiser and ambassador came about, and I jumped on it. It's the first time I've ever officially volunteered for something charitable.
And so began what I think might just be an annual event for me ...
The day began meeting Bronwyn and her CQ entourage for a briefing and welcome. At least 6 online partners in crime from The Bulldogs Army were present, and a handful more. We were the gold-coin bucket-crew assigned to wander ANZ stadium and spread some CQ gospel. They didn't know it, but thy had some of the Army's biggest personalities throwing their weight behind the exercise, and this alone had me excited for a successful day.
Never let it be said that Bulldogs fans (and Roosters fans too) are not generous - By days end my bucket weighed more than one of my kids !
Maybe it had a little to do with the decision to steal two cheerleaders (Hello Karsha and Marissa) and target some folks in the Members area. It's sure hard to say No to a pretty lady, let alone
I have absolutely NO idea what the grand total at the end of the day was, but considering my bucket alone (one of about eight) contained a multitude of notes including 20's and 50's ... I'd safely assume it was somewhere in the order of "shitloads" !!!
Happy (and sore) after my initial collecting efforts, I watched the game with my fellow Army folk in the first half, but felt the pull towards the Companions present, so I decided to spend the 2nd half with them in a separate bay away from where I normally enjoy a game.
After a minute or so making myself at home, I struck up a chat with another active fundraiser for CQ responsible for their "car rides" who was present with his children for the day. He was a Wests Tigers fan normally, but for today he was happy to have a day out, giving his fellow fundraising mates (and Roosters fans) a hard time.
He informed me that somewhere in the order of 60-100 companions were present. The immediate family members, siblings, parents and extended family of "kids" suffering with cancer. Days like the footy provide families an important time-out from the everyday grind of doctors appointments, tests, treatments, chemo, tears, frustration, traffic and parking fees. A chance for the extended family to bond. To forget about the worldly troubles for a while. If only an hour or two.
We chatted. Spoke about footy. The two boys in his care blissfully unaware of the score, and more pre-occupied with the Bulldogs mascot. A million miles away from a regular day I imagine.
I wish I could have told everyone who gave me even "one coin", just what their money does, because the living proof of it was at the stadium for anyone to see.
As the Bulldogs mascot made his way to the fences near the bay of 'Companions', the two boys were gesturing they wanted to go give him a high-five, and Dad gestured back 'away you go'. We continued our chat about life in general, and minutes later the heavens opened and down came the rain.
As Dad stood up to figured out where the boys were, they (like 10,000 others at the stadium) were scurrying back from the fence, out of the elements and undercover. About 20 rows from the safety of dryness, both boys (aged under 10) paused ... and began simulating having a shower in the rain, complete with scrubbed underarms, and washed hair !
At first Dad pleaded "dont stand in the rain", but as the smiles from his Roosters mates, me and others permeated the near vicinity Dad knew the cause was lost ... he shrugged as if to say "yep, those are MY goofballs", and it was THEN, the pennies dropped.
I'm watching the magic of the whole initiative unfold before my eyes.
As a parent with ill-kids myself, I can certainly empathise with the uncertainty. The constant flux of good progress mixed with setbacks. The never ending travel and logistical juggling. All of these are mild frustrations in the grand scheme of things, but nonetheless, they still SUCK !
With the boys showering in the rain for the benefit of everyones amusement, the world seemed complete.
Knowing that my involvement this year ensures the ongoing success of the union between my Bulldogs and Camp Quality, is immensely satisfying. Knowing that the generosity of Bulldogs fans solidifies the decision of CQ to join forces with us, makes me a proud Bulldogs man.
Knowing that more suffering kids can come watch my footy team, high-five the mascot and shower in the rain for fun, all because I took the time to give away my day at the footy, is one of the best deposits in the spirit account I've ever made !
Sign me up for next time already.