Last Saturday’s Maverick Weller Charity Event saw a guest list of sporting stars and local supporters raise a combine total of $35,391 worth of funds to support three beneficiaries.
The dinner, attended by personalities such as Nick Riewoldt, Sam Greco, Matthew Lloyd and others at Sandringham Football Club sought to collect donations for Under 22 Australian Champion boxer Steph Mfongwot, the Moorabbin Boxing Gym and Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision.
The host of the event and St Kilda midfielder, Maverick Weller, was humbled by the support of his teammates and the attendees of the event.
Weller met Mfongwot during his preseason training at the Moorabbin Boxing Gym. Originally from Cameroon, the partially deaf Steph and her brother Jonas moved to Melbourne to pursue greater opportunities.
Mfongwot trains at one of the few community fitness centres around Melbourne, the Moorabbin Boxing Gym, also previously headed by the late St Kilda trainer and life member, Kenny Whiffen.
While Mfongwot travels from her home in Flemington to the Rowans Rd gym via public transport, her brother works two jobs to help support her career. As the women’s competition is much smaller than the men’s, the need to travel for quality competition is ever-growing.
As a result, Weller established the charity event to support Mfongwot’s training demands and the costs associated with her upcoming competitions.
Seeing the commitment that Mfongwot’s trainer Steve Kerr had to developing young adults throughout the community, Weller found it necessary to also contribute funds to the Moorabbin Boxing Gym to upgrade facilities.
A third beneficiary, Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision (MRV) was also included in the event due to Weller’s compassion for the cause and respect for his teammate and captain, Nick Riewoldt.
MRV aims to help adolescents and young adults suffering from Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes through research, providing support into treatments and prevention, with an ultimate aim to find a cure.
The not-for-profit recently announced that funds of $750,000 have been raised and will be directly utilised to support their mission of finding a cure for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.
The event reached above the initial funding goal set for all beneficiaries who are grateful for the community support.
To donate to Maddy Riewoldt’s Vision visit mrv.giveeasy.org/
