Students join Walk for Love; BOSFC hosts Mary Potter Family Day

When a group of Blackfriars students meets up for a stroll around North Adelaide this Sunday, it will be about much more than just a weekend catch-up.

Year 9 student Nathan Bishop has organised a team to be part of The Mary Potter Foundation’s annual Walk for Love.

So far, eight Blackfriars students have agreed to be part of the walk, but Nathan hopes more will join. He also hopes to raise at least $250 for the Mary Potter Foundation, supporting the palliative care work of North Adelaide’s Mary Potter Hospice.

The Walk for Love is a cause close to Nathan’s heart. His extended family has participated in the event for a number of years, after his great uncle spent the final weeks of his life in Mary Potter Hospice.

“He was in Mary Potter for a month or two,” Nathan said. “The care and support they gave the patients and the families was just awesome. They were so nice, the staff is amazing. Ever since that, my family’s been doing the walk each year.”

_{Students, from left, Jason Pham, Anthony Phuy, Nathan Bishop and James Roissetter will be joined by Tom O’Callaghan, Simon Mazzarolo, James De Ceukelaire and Liam Le on this weekend’s Walk for Love.} _{They hope more Blackfriars students will join the team.}

The Mary Potter Foundation will this year support more than 1000 palliative patients, providing funding for individual care and programs that make a difference when it matters most.

In Term 1, a Prefect-led initiative, Blackfriars Greatest Shave, raised more than $10,000 for the Mary Potter Foundation.

The Blackfriars’ Walk for Love team* will meet at the Australian Lutheran College, 104 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide, at 8.45am on Sunday 28 May. The walk should take between 90 minutes and two hours. Students are asked to wear an item of Blackfriars clothing – socks, hat, PE jacket or the like.

Parents and other family members are also welcome to join the walk. Donations can be made here.

_{*Please note, the Walk for Love is a student-organised and led initiative and there will be no staff supervision on the day.}

BOSFC Family Day

Meanwhile, Blackfriars Old Scholars Football Club (BOSFC) is gearing up for its annual Mary Potter Family Day, with all money raised also going to the Mary Potter Foundation.

“BOSFC has partnered with the Mary Potter Foundation in support of the Hospice since 2008, when one of our coaching staff entered the annual Walk for Love to raise funds in honour and memory of his late wife,” the club said.

“A collection was taken up from BOSFC players and supporters on the Saturday night before the Walk, starting a tradition that has continued to this day.

_{BOSFC’s 2021 side in their Mary Potter guernseys.}

“In 2015, BOSFC players initiated the creation of a special guernsey to be worn during our Ladies’ Day round, now known as Family Day, which recognised our club’s enduring partnership with the Mary Potter Foundation. The club decided that all funds raised on the day would be donated to the Foundation.

“BOSFC is very proud of our ongoing association with The Mary Potter Foundation. Our community is happy to help the Hospice continue to provide quality care for people with life-limiting illness.”

This year’s Mary Potter Family Day is on Saturday 3 June. Tickets are on sale now.