A few familiar faces lined up for the Ultimate Backyard Cricket Match last weekend to raise funds for the Pirate Ship Foundation.
Perth Scorchers’ Jason Behrendorff, Teneale Peschel, and Charis Bekker lined up alongside the recently retired Shaun Marsh, Australian Aboriginal icon Ernie Dingo, and a host of other local celebrities.
The Pirate Ship Foundation raises awareness and is responsible for vital research into childhood brain cancer, which takes the lives of more children than any other disease in Australia.
The clash for the ages was staged at Government House Gardens in Perth CBD which is a space usually closed to the public, and was the third time the Foundation hosted the popular event.
Former The Block contestants Matt and E’lise Bothe have plenty of previous backyard cricket experience with three kids at home.
“We’ve just landscaped our front yeard and the first thing we did was make sure we could put a set of stumps in and play,” they said.
“For us, having three children of our own, the work that the Foundation is doing, the money they’re raising and everything they are empowering to be is so inspiring.”
Comedian Ernie Dingo was slightly starstruck when first introduced to WA Cricket’s own Behrendorff.
“It was fun to see Behrendorff when I first arrived, I was sort of like a kid in a lolly shop,” Dingo said.
“It is important to try and find some way of finding funding and having a lot of fun while doing so.”
Behrendorff expressed the cause was close to his heart, especially now that he has two young children of his own.
“These kids are going through much more than the daily sickness some kids might come home with, so it’s so important that the research is being funded to hopefully catch it early and prevent it as much as possible,” he said.
To find out more about what the Pirate Ship Foundation does, click here.