OF all the inspiration Paul Harragon has provided, nothing means more to Mark Hughes than the former Knights captain backing his charity on the television show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
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Harragon is one of 12 celebrities jumping, swimming and eating their way through a series of ordeals in the South African jungle for the right to donate $100,000 to their charity of choice.
Brain cancer survivor Hughes, whose Mark Hughes Foundation helps people with the disease, likened the support of “The Chief” to his leadership in the 1997 grand final.
“I only got the call from Chief the day before he flew out, so it’s been hard to keep a lid on my excitement for the past few days,” Hughes said.
“I’m just over the moon that he’d commit to six weeks of putting his body on the line for our little foundation.”
Hughes and his wife Kirralee launched the foundation in May 2014, 10 months after Hughes was diagnosed with brain cancer. Donations so far have helped fund a biobank at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Hughes credits his on-field captain with being “a mentor and a friend” through his illness.
The inspirational Knights skipper and face of the nib TV ads has kept himself in remarkable shape, Hughes said, and recently endured a series of wilderness treks.
In Sunday night’s series premiere the former NSW State of Origin and Australia front rower admitted to feeling “a little bit dusty on heights and claustrophobia”. The first challenge was to jump from a helicopter.
“Nah, nah, nah,” Harragon said, before completing the challenge.
He will spend up to six weeks camping in the jungle with 11 other stars including singer Anthony Callea, former TV presenter Jo Beth Taylor and cricket great Shane Warne.
Hughes predicted that Harragon would get on well in the camp and “be a leader”, but probably wouldn’t clash with anyone unless they “did the wrong thing by the team”.
“Being an athlete he’ll probably get on with [former AFL player] Brendan Fevola, [champion ironwoman] Courtney Hancock,” Hughes said.
“He’ll probably get on all right with Warnie.”
Viewers can vote to keep Harragon in the show by texting “Paul” to 1995 10 10, and follow his progress on Twitter with the hashtag #CelebPaul.
Visit theherald.com.au for updates on Paul Harragon in Ten’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
