Kicking Goals for Batten Disease

The East Fremantle Football Club, along with Major Partner Bendigo Bank, will be supporting Batten Disease awareness on Saturday June 7^th in our Round 11 Bendigo Bank Cup clash with Peel Thunder at East Fremantle Oval.

The East Fremantle players are donating $100 to the Batten Disease Support and Research Association for every goal they score on Saturday. Bendigo Bank are matching their donations with another $100 per goal and we want our supporters to pledge too!

Click here to pledge your donation per goal. Any amount big or small - every little bit helps! Send us your pledge per goal, along with your name and phone number and we’ll be in touch after the game to collect.

About Batten Disease

Batten disease is an inherited disorder of the nervous system that usually manifests itself in childhood.

Early symptoms of Batten disease usually appear in childhood when parents or doctors may notice a child begin to develop vision problems or seizures.

Symptoms vary with each child. The most typical symptomatology is:

• Visual impairment often progressing to complete blindness;

• Seizures, which may be frequent and difficult to control;

• Decline in cognitive function;

• Personality and behavioural changes;

• Loss of communication skills;

• Loss of fine and gross motor skills;

• Abnormal body movements;

• A general progressive deterioration.

Batten disease, to date has always been fatal, most often by the late teens or twenties and is not contagious nor, at this time, preventable.

East Fremantle Football Club and Batten Disease

There are two families in Western Australia currently affected by Batten Disease.  The Halley-Millenbach family, local to the East Fremantle area, have two children living with Batten Disease, Curtis (17) and Luke (15).

The East Fremantle Football Club is calling on staff, players, volunteers and members to consider donating to the Batten Disease Support and Research Association throughout the week and will be fundraising on the day.

The East Fremantle players will be donating $100 for every goal they kick on the day, matched by our Major Partner Bendigo Bank. That’s $200 per goal.  We have actually had some players donate their entire match payments for this week. 

We’re asking our supporters to chip in as well. Send us your pledge per goal, along with your name and phone number and we’ll be in touch after the game to collect. More pledges means even more motivation for the players to kick goals!  

Pledge Now!

The Bendigo Bank Cup

In recognition of Bendigo Bank’s significant contribution to both Clubs, East Fremantle and Peel Thunder Football Clubs compete each year for the Bendigo Bank Cup.

East Fremantle have won the Cup the last 2 years, including in 2012 when the Cup was last played for at East Fremantle Oval. Pictured left are Bendigo Bank Fremantle's Chairperson Debra Rule with former Captain Mark McGough with the 2012 Bendigo Bank Cup.