Penrith Panthers have handed over $200,000 to The Big Dry Drought Appeal.
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It comes a few days after Panthers Rugby League pledged $100,000 to the appeal, which is a partnership between Fairfax Media, Macquarie Radio and charity Rural Aid and it’s Buy A Bale program.
Panthers Group jumped in with a $100,000 contribution, taking the total to $200,000. That is equivalent to about 1800 round bales of hay. 0
The money will go specifically to the Buy A Bale Western NSW campaign, where farmers are in the fight of their lives to survive unrelenting drought.
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The clubs chose that particular campaign because of its strong ties with the central west including Panthers Bathurst, playing a NRL game there each year, and academy programs in Bathurst, Dubbo and Forbes.
“"Given the gravity of the situation our farmers currently face, we felt compelled to make a contribution,”
- Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher said.
“I wish to thank the Panthers Board for their generosity in supporting this most worthy cause.
“Panthers has always shared a strong affiliation with central west NSW given the significant number of players who have emerged from the region to pull on the Panthers jersey.
“While our donation will make a small difference for the farmers doing it tough, we hope it helps draw attention to the critical need for further assistance.”
Rural Aid CEO and Buy A Bale founder Charles Alder could barely contain his excitement – the huge donation is equivalent to about 1800 bales of hay.
“I’d like to thank the Panthers Leagues Club, this is an amazing piece of generosity to our farmers who are doing it very tough in NSW,” Mr Alder said.
“I’ve just come back from Bathurst and saw firsthand what the farmers out there are going through and it’s quite distressing, but the Australian spirit and clubs like the panthers supporting the rural communities means a great deal to those farmers.
“They are very grateful that people are thinking of them, contributing and supporting them .. Thank you to the people of Australia who are kindly supporting The Big Dry Drought Appeal and Buy A Bale.”