It is with great excitement I write to share with you a unique charity concept for this NRL season – a concept you can play an important part in making a success but most importantly, every dollar raised will be staying here in the Hunter.

Cross Runs for Your Life is a unique initiative that see the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance and the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation benefit from every metre I gain throughout the Knights 2010 NRL campaign.

The aim is to attract sponsorship per metre according to Fox Sports Statistics and of course, one off donations are also encouraged – every dollar counts for my target goal of $100,000.

For a little background, the idea came to me when I was out for a run one day, thinking about the negative stories that were happening in Rugby League. I wondered how I could do something to help our game’s image and the Community.

I thought about what has happened recently in my life that has not only affected my family, but everyone, every day. Sadly, the first word that came to mind was cancer.

My Aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, my father in-law is a survivor of prostate cancer and my manager Steven Stone and brother Rick Stone, our 1st Grade Coach, lost their father to the ‘silent killer’ last year.

We all have mothers, daughters and sisters that are statistically potential victims of breast cancer. We need to be assured if they are ever affected they will have the best possible care and chance of survival. But for that care to be there, funding is needed.

Being a Rugby League player, statistics suggest that in the near future some of my closest team mates will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and if not me, my father or brother.

Bearing this in mind I have set myself the target of at least 2600 metres (if not better) this season and in doing so I hope to raise the $100,000 target – securing just 40 sponsors at $1 per metre will ensure we get there.

All funds raised over the course of the season will be divided evenly between two great local charities and I’m urging all sponsors and supporters to get behind the cause.

I have felt a strong connection to the Knights and the Newcastle region since becoming a Novocastrian and I see this as a real opportunity to not only give something back to the game that has given me everything, but also to a region that is a footy town where the fans support their players and team like no other.

And so with my position in the community as an NRL player for the Newcastle Knights, I hope to use my profile to draw some attention to two organisations that do so much for local people.

Both organisations work hard to raise the awareness of prostate and breast cancer within our community.

The Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation is a volunteer organisation that provides grass root support to people undergoing treatment for breast cancer that includes transportation to treatment, post surgery cushions, house and lawn maintenance and scholarships for children of breast cancer patients.

The Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance aims to encourage more men to have a simple blood test called PSA which may, with further testing, enable an early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Early diagnosis of prostate cancer increases the likelihood of a full cure.

Donations can be made at any NAB branch or by direct deposit to:

A/C Name: Ben Cross Runs for Your Life
BSB: 082637
A/C Number: 170564378

To become a corporate sponsor please call reception on 02 49 418 200 and I will contact you personally at my earliest convenience.

In the meantime I look forward to sharing a special year with you supporting two great local causes.

Kind regards,

Ben Cross