MAX Gawn has become an ambassador for Reach – the organisation co-founded by the late, great Jim Stynes – and has urged Melbourne supporters and the wider football community to donate $11 each for the continuation of Reach’s aim to help young people in the community.
On Sunday, Reach will be Melbourne’s charity partner for its round two match against Carlton at the MCG.
Gawn said he wanted to continue Stynes’ legacy by challenging young people to be the best versions of themselves.
“I’m very into developing youths. I like to see youths come out of themselves and be the best people they can,” he said.
“All we’re asking for is $11 towards the Reach foundation, which will go towards developing youths to be the best people they can be.
“If you text ‘11’ to 0455 021 021, it’ll be greatly appreciated, thank you.”
Reach has helped more than 750,000 people in the past 23 years.
Each year, 30,000 people aged 10 to 18 years old experience Reach through workshops that are entirely youth-led. They are deigned and delivered by Reach.
The $11 donation will help Reach keep achieving these programs.
Stynes said Reach was all about helping young people “become great adults and great people”.
“It will only ever be stepping stones to greater things, but if it becomes stepping stones – isn’t that a great thing?” he said.
Melbourne has played a central role in championing Reach, hence the partnership for its first home game of the season, and Gawn said it was a great cause for all associated with the game to be a part of.
“We would love to see you at the game and we want this opportunity to be about more than football. We want to show the next generation that we care. For just $11 you can show that support,” Gawn said.
When Stynes first heard of Gawn, several years ago, he took an immediate interest in the big ruckman.
“I was looking in the newspaper at some of his story – about this giant wanting to get drafted. For some reason, I thought ‘we’re going to get him’,” he said at the time.
“I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great to get someone who is doing it a bit differently’. I did it a bit differently – and why can’t you do it [differently].”
Gawn, who originally wore No.37 and now wears No.11 (the two regular numbers Stynes wore in the VFL/AFL), said he was “very grateful” to have had the legendary figure in his life.
“Stynesy had this motto that he lived by ‘whatever it takes’, which whenever you put into context with him, ‘whatever it takes’ was quite extreme,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to get the No.11 as well. I still look at the number every chance I get before the game. As soon as I look at No.11, it reminds me of Stynesy and it reminds me of his battle.
“While I can play on the MCG, [I want] to make the No.11 proud.”
CLICK HERE to donate to Reach: https://donate.grassrootz.com/reach/mfc-round-for-reach
