Round 19 is more than just a game for the Essendon Football Club. This Thursday, July 17 at Marvel Stadium, the Bombers will be again teaming up with Challenge and official partner Yakult for the 2025 ‘Challenge Game’ to support kids with cancer.
For more than 20 years, the Dons have been championing Challenge, raising more than $1 million for Challenge and standing tall beside children and families battling cancer. Inspired by the courage of former player and cancer survivor Adam Ramanauskas, this match is about more than four quarters, it’s about the on-going commitment to making an impact off the field.
This year, Yakult will be supporting Challenge by helping fund their Playgroup at the Challenge Family Centre. During treatment, many children are unable to attend their usual playgroups, kindergartens, or childcare centres due to the heightened risk of infection.
The Challenge Playgroup, based at the Challenge Family Centre, provides an environment where children can continue to socialise and engage with other kids. With the support of Yakult, this important program can continue to bring joy and connection to children and their families when they need it most.
Challenge kids and their families joined players at the NEC Hangar to paint their match-day boots, adding their personal touch to the game. In what will be a touching moment, the kids will present the players with their boots pre-game and walk together through the banner on Thursday night.
These one-of-a-kind boots will be worn during the clash, with the player issued boots and guernseys then auctioned off to raise funds for Challenge. Fans can bid here to own the special personalised boots and signature guernseys featuring the yellow Challenge armband.
To highlight the much-loved game-day celebration between Matt Guelfi and Alexis from the 2024 Challenge Game, the Club has created a limited edition Guelfi X Alexis Tackling Childhood Cancer T-Shirt. The t-shirt honours courage, connection, and the power of standing tall for something bigger, and all profits from every purchase go directly to Challenge.
Fans can purchase a t-shirt online here through Challenge, in store at the Bomber shop or at the match between gate 4-5 on the concourse on Thursday night.
For the last week of school holidays, kids’ bedtimes are out the window, so gather your friends and family and head down for our last Thursday Flight Night at Marvel Stadium for 2025 and help the Club support a great cause.
Don't forget round 19 is the last week of kids go free round so KIDS 14 and under are FREE in General Admission with a redeemed ticket. Adults can access a $25 General Admission ticket, with $5 of the ticket sale going straight to Challenge. Access the GA ticket offer and $0 kids tickets here.
Head down early and catch us between gate 4 & 5 to:
- Purchase a limited-edition Challenge T-shirt
- Get your nails painted to support Challenge - with a donation of your choice
- Get your face painted for FREE
- Get a photo in our FREE novelty family photo booth
Can't make it to Thursday night’s game but still want to support? You can donate to Challenge directly here.
Every moment of Round 19 ‘Challenge Game’ is a chance to give cancer the boot, so please join us to help make a difference.
