For the first time in three years, Michael Walters' six-year-old nephew Beau Anderson has been well enough to attend Fremantle’s annual Starlight Purple Haze game, proudly supported by Fremantle Ports.
“Little Beau, he’s a Starlight kid and he’s my little nephew,” Walters said.
“He’s the sort of kid that no matter what adversity he goes through, he’s just happy to play footy and happy to be around everyone and he loves Freo.
“Hopefully, he loves me as an uncle as well.”
Wearing a customised Fremantle prosthetic leg, Beau joined fellow Starlight wish kids as part of the pre-game ceremony.
Beau was on hand to present the umpires with the game ball, and Orlena Forsyth, seven, and Tim Timaepatue, 17, joined the team in running trough the banner.
To raise money for seriously ill children and their families, Fremantle players made various pledges to charity in the lead up to the game.
On top of pledging $5 for every Stephen Hill kick, $5 for every Garrick Ibbotson mark and $10 for every Walters goal - defender Michael Johnson pledged an additional $50 if Walters would do a “dab” as a celebration.
“I know we were down at the time,” Walters said.
“I thought anytime I get the chance to raise some money for Starlight I’m willing to do it.”
The game was Fremantle’s 15th year supporting Starlight, with more than $1 million raised since the club’s first Purple Haze game in 2003.
