One change for Purple Haze
Heath's Starlight wish becomes a reality
Dress in purple for your chance to WIN!
If there is an extra flair to Lachie Neale’s game on Saturday against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium, it might be because the midfielder will be laced up in a pair of specially designed boots to celebrate the annual Starlight Purple Haze Game.
Neale’s boots only arrived in the country on Thursday night, so Virgin Australia stepped in to ensure they arrived in Perth on time, while bringing some special passengers along the way.
Mykel Rugers, the person who designs all of Neale’s boots, has a close connection to Starlight and Virgin flew him and his daughter, Willow, over from Melbourne so they could deliver the boots in person.
“The opportunity came about to do the design for the Starlight Foundation and my family has a history with Starlight,” Mykel said.
“My son, Oscar, passed away about a year ago, he was nearly 17 and he lived with cerebral palsy.
“My daughter Willow, who’s about to turn nine, was the perfect candidate to help me. So I gave her the Starlight Foundation logo and asked her to draw that.
“She did all the stars and bits and pieces on the boot, so she drew it all and I scanned it and popped it on and it came out a treat.”
Mykel and Willow were given a tour of Fremantle’s facility on Friday and visited Lachie Neale’s house to drop off the boots.
In his sixth year as a Starlight Ambassador, the boots only add to Neale’s excitement for tomorrow’s clash.
“I’m absolutely stoked to have my Purple Haze boots arrive today, just in time for the game, and I can’t wait to wear them,” Neale said.
“They look great, Willow and Mykel have done an amazing job, and they are very special boots for me to be able to wear.
"It’s my favourite game of the year to play in and, hopefully, we get a great turn out. I can’t wait to see everyone dressed in purple and donating to the Starlight volunteers.”
The boots will be auctioned post-match to raise funds for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
