Fundraiser with Simon O'Donnell for Sporting Chance with Cancer

Tonight the Heathcote Golf Club is hosting the Sporting Chance with Cancer fundraiser to assist The Fight Cancer Foundation - Heathcote. It will be a night full of fun and life experiences featuring locals who have been touched by cancer. Mary Dent, Sandra Slatter and Maggie Murphy will all speak of their experiences as will Heathcote Golf Club member Simon O'Donnell, the well-known sports commentator, Australian cricketer and racing identity.

Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per double and are available at The McIvor Times office, 170 High Street Heathcote and Connally's Real Estate, 81 High Street Heathcote. BYO Basket Supper. Drinks are available at bar prices. Proudly sponsored by Heathcote Golf Club, Heathcote Football & Netball Club and Heathcote District & Community Bank.

Simon O'Donnell's sporting career in Australian Rules football and cricket highlights his talent, versatility and determination. As a multi-talented athlete, Simon ended a promising Australian Rules football career to focus on cricket and went on to become a valuable all-rounder in the Australian one-day team, and he was a key member of the 1987 World Cup winning team. In November 1987, O'Donnell was still celebrating the World Cup win when he suffered severe aches and pains that were diagnosed as non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer. While he was able to eventually overcome it, O'Donnell says the emotional, physical and social consequences of dealing with the disease continue to haunt and inspire him.

"Cancer no longer is a death sentence, but it is a life sentence. Once you have experienced the trauma of being diagnosed, gone through the battles of treatment and come out the other end, it is firmly entrenched as a part of your life", he said.

After winning his battle with cancer, in 1990/91 Simon led Victoria to victory in the Sheffield Shield and was named 1991 International Cricketer of the Year. Since his retirement from cricket, O'Donnell has become a member of the Nine Network's commentary team, and is the regular host of The Cricket Show, which airs during the lunch breaks of Tests in Australia.  His other passion is thoroughbred horse racing, and he is a regular contributor on all racing telecasts with the Nine Network.

This year, he has joined fellow cancer survivors to make a DVD, Just Take it Day to Day, for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to help others better adapt to life after cancer. The Cancer Council Victoria has also released the book, Life After Cancer, to help cancer survivors.

"You are literally touched with it every day," says O'Donnell. "Any time that word is mentioned it takes you back to where you were and that is part of what you have to live with."