Charity Match Day to benefit mums, babies and Mercy Perinatal

Sick, small, pre-term babies and their mothers will be the beneficiaries of the inaugural Western United Football Club/Mercy Perinatal Charity Match Day to be played at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Saturday 11 February.

Fans who attend the double-header event, featuring both the Western United men’s and women’s teams will be helping to contribute to the work of Mercy Perinatal’s team of researchers, who are dedicated to improving the lives of women and babies globally.

Mercy Perinatal Co-Director Professor Sue Walker says the team’s researchers and clinicians has developed an international reputation for its centre of clinical care, education and research.

“At the heart of Mercy Perinatal is a commitment to ensuring mothers and their newborn babies arrive home safely,” says Prof Walker.

“Most of us know someone who has experienced the grief of a stillbirth or the sadness of a pregnancy complication. Despite all our medical prowess, approximately one in 130 Australian pregnancies results in stillbirth.

“The long-term pain particularly for mothers is immense and can impact their lives, and their families’ lives, for years to come.

“We often hear stories from mothers who say while years can dull the pain, their hearts are forever fractured.”

Western United Chief Executive Officer Chris Pehlivanis says the club’s players, staff and supporters have absolutely embraced the work of Mercy Perinatal.

“Their work is impressive and we are thrilled that we are partnering Mercy Perinatal in the club’s Charity Match Day with them,” says Chris.

Western United goalkeeper Jamie Young says the club is mobilising its army of supporters to attend the Charity Match Day.

“We want our fans to show up, join up and support Mercy Perinatal.”

Western United women’s goalkeeper Alyssa Dall’Oste says the occasion will be the club’s first double header at AAMI Park since the inception of the women’s team.

“Some of our players recently visited the Mercy Perinatal labs and later turned up at training full of admiration and respect for the team of clinicians and researchers they’d witnessed at work.

“We’re proud to be wearing the Mercy Perinatal logo on the back of our shorts and it looks cool, too,” says Alyssa.

Mercy Health is now in the second year of its partnership with Western United.

Mercy Health became the Official Health and Aged Care Partner of the men’s team at the start of the 2021–22 season. This season, Mercy Perinatal became the Official Charity Partner of the Western United women’s team.

“We’ve linked with the ‘Green and Black’ because there are synergies with what we both do in the west of Melbourne,” says Prof Walker.

“Western United and Werribee Mercy Hospital are both important players in that part of greater Melbourne. Both entities are growing at a rapid rate, as too is the population in that part of Melbourne.” Prof Walker says.