St Kilda football club is proud to announce a new charity partnership with not for profit organisation Soldier On.

Soldier On empowers Australia’s wounded soldiers to achieve their dreams and aims to inspire Australians to come together by showing their support for physically wounded and psychologically affected service men and women.

Having experienced first-hand the recognition of returning servicemen and women from active duty at sporting events on the club’s recent training camp in Colorado, Head Coach Scott Watters and St Kilda’s leadership group have driven the creation of the partnership with Soldier On.

“When we watched the NFL and the NBA we saw how much care they showed for their returned servicemen,” backman Sean Dempster said.
 

“Everyone got around them, supported them and showed them how much they cared.
 

“It was something we wanted to get going and we have already had an affiliation with the defence force. It was something we wanted to do to show how much we care.”

The partnership will involve recognition of a returning wounded serviceman or woman at select St Kilda matches.

In the lead-up to tonight’s game against Richmond, the first Soldier On ambassador to be officially recognised by the club for their services will be 
Liam Haven, who was blinded when he was part of a routine patrol that was attacked in Iraq in 2008.

Liam said the partnership would be beneficial for both St Kilda and Soldier On.

“It’s more the awareness side of things, getting a big football club partnered with us will in turn get the community involved with this charity,” he said.

“A hero isn’t someone who goes overseas to serve their country, a hero is a person who helps that person.”