Mark Hughes 'overwhelmed' by support for Beanie for Brain Cancer Round 08:39

The NRL is joining forces with the Mark Hughes Foundation this weekend for the 8th annual Beanie for Brain Cancer round. It's already raised over $1 million, over $30 million I should say, and they've sold over a million beanies.

And I mentioned at the top of the program, survival rates have increased by only 1% over the last 30 years. Brain cancer kills more children than any other disease. Only two out of 10 people diagnosed will live more than five years. And it kills more people under 40 than any other cancer. I'm pleased to say the man behind all of this, Mark Hughes, he's on the line with us right now. G'day, Mark.

G'day, Mark. Mate, wonderful to catch up as always. I was talking to you at the footy on Thursday night about what you've been able to achieve with your foundation. Mate, you must sit back and think to yourself, wow, we're making a huge difference for the sufferers of this insidious disease.

Yeah, sure, mate. You know, all due to the NRL being around, being for brain cancer around, it's really propelled us to another level. And the support we get from the whole community, particular rugby league community during this time is, you know, it's overwhelming actually. But then you, you know, you read out those stats and you hear those things that you just mentioned on there and it's

It keeps me motivated to... We've got to improve these for so many people, you know? Yeah, and I've got to say a big thank you to you, Mark, because you asked how our great mate David Morrow is going at the moment. He's in hospital. And I'm going to play a little message that he's recorded for you, Mark, and also our listeners who are tuning in to the continuous call team. You'll obviously be able to tell that he's quite frail at the moment. Davey, it's very tough to listen to when you think back to his big, booming voice. But here's a message...

From David Morrow to Mark Hughes and our Continuous Call team listeners. To all the Continuous Call team listeners, this is just a message from David Morrow, wishing you all the best, especially you, Mark, and the Foundation and all those that get behind the Foundation and give it a lift every year. I can't understand what some of you have been through. I can now. I tell you what, it's tough. It's a tough road to row.

And I thank you Mark for everything you've done to help so many lift their spirits and try and find a way to beat this unbelievable, hideous bloody disease. And mate, honestly, thanks for all your support and everyone else that's given me support. And don't forget the beanies. They're fantastic. Keep your ears warm throughout the winter. I've spoken the world with friends.

and others that I've had out of footy because without them I'm not sure we would have even got this far. I'm not lucky, really I'm so lucky. Thanks for all your support and please support the Mark Hughes Foundation. Every cent counts towards the most underfunded research project in Australia. We need it. Every cent helps. I'm going okay.

as well as can be expected, as they would say in doctor's terminology. Yeah, he's really battling at the moment, Mark. But when I mentioned to his family that you were sending your well wishes to him, he was overjoyed. He had a smile from ear to ear, mate. And it's another reason why we need people to buy those beanies. Yeah.

Yeah, well, yeah, so David has always been a huge supporter of what I've been doing. I've always looked forward to hearing, talking to him every year. And, yeah, that's, you know, that's hard listening, that. And that's the realities of brain cancer. And it's devastating to me and everyone listening, you know,

But, yeah, it's why we keep going at this. Yeah, and we've got to keep going because, you know, the more and more money we raise, Mark, the closer we will get, hopefully, to one day finding a cure for what can only be described. I mean, I said insidious. It's a bastard of a disease, isn't it? Yeah, it's the absolute worst.

I get so many stories and hear so many things, such as David's, and I just want to stop it. Like, I've had a gut pull. Like, I just, I need to crack the code to this thing. So I'm not going to stop. And I know some people probably think, oh, this bloke's back on again this year. He raves on. You know, we can't get rid of him. But I hope you're not going to get rid of me because I want to stick around and see this to the end myself.

so that the Morrow family and so many others don't have to go through this garbage. Well said, mate. Where are you at with it yourself, mate? You've been battling it for quite a while now. How's your health? Yeah, Darrell, going great, mate. I'm just so grateful. I feel fit. I'm healthy. I get scans every five months. I'm going unbelievable from 10 years ago to be here now and be going so well is just amazing. So I'm going to keep running with the ball, you know,

I've got a good crack at this and yeah, I'm representing people like David and so many others that don't get the opportunities that I'm getting. Yeah, you're incredible, mate. I mean, in awe of you every time I see you with that big grin over your face, just out there helping everyone else. But hey, I was just chatting before about we got an incredible email off our bosses that the Mark Hughes Foundation had the largest night of sales on Thursday night since the opening night.

eight years ago. How important is that to you and how does that make you feel just knowing that the momentum is on the rise and it's still going, people are still at it?

It's unbelievable, Alana. And you guys at Channel 9 just go well over and above, like all the media, but particularly you guys at Channel 9, what you do for us. And just stuff like, I think I was on at halftime of the Women's State of Origin for two minutes talking about it, and I think we sold $50,000 worth of beanies in 20 minutes. And I don't know the stats on the other day, but we had our best ever day because of all the coverage we're getting from all the networks, all the radios.

All the teams. This awareness, the money's one thing, but the awareness we get and people wanting to help us post Beanie Round really sets us up for the year because we have inquiries flooding in of different people that want to get in and help, and it doesn't happen without good people like yourself.

getting on there and helping us. Well, Mark, I was driving to work this morning thinking, what could we do as a continuous call team to try and raise a bit more money for your foundation in the hope of trying to find a cure and raise more money for research? And what we're going to do this afternoon is auction off a long lunch with the continuous call team. We've already taken a bit of $7,000 from William at Balmoral. Just stay there for me, Mark.

because I want to bring in Michael, who I believe is a real estate agent listening to us in Sydney. Are there, Michael? Hey, mate. Hello, Michael. What's your real estate agency's name there, Michael? Daystar First National, mate. We're based at Reesby. Fantastic. Did you want to make a bid in our auction, mate? Yeah, well, I'm certainly going to push it up for you and I'm certainly committed to it. $10,000. Oh, wow.

Good on you, mate. Wow, mate. That's fabulous. If I can get a chair, I'll get there as well. Oh, well, Bert, mate, you can't drink. You're allowed to have a drink. I might devalue the thing, but no, that's good. Well, Michael, thank you very much for that. A $10,000 beard. Mate, you're a superstar. And look, we're going to continue to push this throughout the afternoon. We're on air right throughout the afternoon before we launch into some footy at five. So we'll keep it going, Mark, and see how much money we can raise for the Mark Hughes Foundation and

Obviously, we'll be pushing that message to buy a beanie from Lowe's, from IGA and also at the footy this weekend. You keep up the fight, mate. It's wonderful to catch up.

Oh, legend, Mark. And I did send David a text message yesterday. I hope he got it. But, yeah, it was really great to talk to you, guy. You're all legends, and thanks for the support. Good on you, buddy. There he is, Mark Hughes from the Mark Hughes Foundation. Beanies for brain cancer around in the NRL. So we've gone from 1,000 to 1,100 to 2,000 to 4,000 to 7,000. And Michael Sleeman, a real estate agent in Sydney, has just put up $10,000 for a long lunch with the Continuous Call team.