Three tables of referees from across the ACT joined the Gungahlin United Football Club fundraising Trivia Night for Capital Football referee, Cameron Shelton last Thursday, along with GUFC executive, volunteers, ACT football families, coaches, sports commentators, and schoolteachers.
Twenty-four-year-old Cam, a much loved member of the referee fraternity, has Ewings Sarcoma, a rare cancer in his spine which he’s been battling for almost two years. It’s taking a team of specialists at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is Sydney to help Cam treat this particularly aggressive cancer.
Cam joined GUFC at the age of four, playing in their peewees, MiniRoos and Juniors programs before he started refereeing for them at the age of 11.
He’s become a well-known face around ACT football fields, so when GUFC volunteers approached members of their Executive a few weeks ago about holding a fundraising event for Cam, it was an instant “yes”.
“Cam has been part of our club forever”, said Andrew Tarnawskyj. “I’ve known him since he was a little fella refereeing, and I’ve always been impressed by his ability to stand firm out there in the middle of the pitch. He never backs down.”
It’s with this never back down attitude that Cam is fighting the cancer which has thrown a 20 per cent survival rate at him.
“While we can’t help him medically, we hope we’ve been able to help him just a little bit financially,” said GUFC’s Leanne Shea Langdown.
“With $8000 raised, we hope it might assist with the travel to and from Sydney, paying a few bills, and hopefully a little left over to spoil himself in some way.”
Participants of the trivia night definitely rallied with two of George Timotheou’s Melbourne Victory player jerseys going for $800 and $400 (presented by brother Anthony), and Kai Trewen’s Brisbane Roar also fetching over $400. Donations of photography, a pizza party and a south coast getaway were also snapped up.
“I’m so overwhelmed,” admitted Cam, “I can’t express what this means to me. Having everyone in that room together, it was hard to believe it was all for me.”
It was definitely all for you Cameron!
GUFC would like to thank all attendees for helping to make the night so special for Cam, with special thanks to volunteers Nicole Murta and Sharon Brennan for making the event happen.
If anyone would like to donate to Cameron’s fight against cancer, you can reach out to contact@gufc.org.au and the team at GUFC will point you in the right direction.
